Punk isn’t dead; punk could never die. While this statement is used to show a passionate affection and massive following for a specific genre of music, it also bears testament that as long as there’s a fan for a particular band, that band will live on.
Sentiments aside, the easiest and most popular way to memorialize your following for a band or an artist would be to buy their merchandise. Rock album memorabilia has been selling out ever since the first logo was printed onto a T-shirt.
Today, you’ll see vinyl records, T-shirts, jackets, posters, and several other items all embellished with logos from rock artists across the world. More specifically, you’ll find symbols from classic rock names from the ’70s and ’80s.
What Makes Classic Rock Artists and Bands so Popular?
This is pretty interesting to think about: Why has The Rolling Stone’s tongue and lip logo remained as the most famous logo in music history 50 years after it was first released in 1970?
This is because the name associated with the logo and the time they became recognizable at a time that coincidentally also got to be known as synonymous with rock music.
The earlier bands and artists from the late twentieth century arguably made rock music what it is today. Several (if not all) upcoming and emerging artists take on inspiration from the classics and cite them as their inspiration for coming into the industry, to begin with.
Buying Merchandise
Buying a classic rock band’s merchandise can be as straightforward as purchasing their albums or owning a piece of paper with their official logo. There does, however, have to be a difference between recreated artwork and official merchandise.
Official merchandise is collector’s items and can be resold. Replicated artwork for a band, while it could be resold, does not hold the same value. There’s also the sentiment attached to an official product and the fact that you’re supporting the band monetarily via royalties by purchasing an official product.
Being a Part of a Larger Fan Base
When The Rolling Stones released Emotional Rescue, fans flocked stores trying to get their hands on the album. The band’s promotional tour was sold out in minutes. However, so was emotional rescue merch.
Merchandise is categorized under DTF (direct-to-fan) commerce. It’s one of the major ways artists make money. Fans want to show their dedication to an artist’s work, and monetary support is the best way to go about it.
Millions are generated annually from DTF sales. Some artists even rely on DTF sales for unique products (namely brand endorsed products) to develop a significant portion of their income.
It also allows the fans to be part of a larger fan group and feel engaged with the community. Buying merchandise for rock bands long after they’ve dissolved gives people a sense of belonging with other fans.
Conclusion
Fans want to cherish the music that they love and the artists who produced them. The easiest way to do so is to buy their merchandise.
