Comments for

Rock & Roll Will Never Die? It Might on Facebook

2010-01-04T20:28:00Z

The graying of the Facebook population seems to have continued according to new stats released today by iStrategyLabs. And while one might expect more of the site's now nearly 10 million users over the age of 55 to be Neil Young fans, his "Rock N' Roll Will Never Die" refrain seems to be falling through. The listing of the term "rock and roll" as an interest is down over 60% among Facebook users in the past year.

The statistics released today pertain to the 100 million U.S.-based Facebook users, which comprise nearly one-third of the site's entire user base. They seem to support a continuing trend for Facebook - the slow growth of young and marketable users joining the site compared with their elders. We took a look at the numbers six months ago and most of the indicators seem to be only growing stronger.

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Now, a big number to look at before anything else is Facebook's nearly 145% growth in the past year, going from 40 million to over 100 million users since January last year. But where is this growth coming from?

When we last wrote about the graying Facebook population in July, users in the 55-plus demographic had skyrocketed from 1 million to nearly 6 million. This same population has now grown to nearly 10 million, a growth of 922% over the past year. This makes this age group now account for one of every 35 Facebook users. Is the boom in Baby Boomers a problem for Facebook or does it just open up new markets?

It seems that the numbers for users identifying as high school or college students have returned to positive growth, and the overall demographics of the site have remained steady. Despite the explosion of senior netizens on the site, the 55-plus group still make up only 9% of the site's entire user population, just 1% more than the last time we looked.

While the over-55 group has strong numbers, the other demographic groups are still primarily responsible for the site's exponential growth, each increasing by nearly 10 million users over the past six months.

Instead of seeing this as a problem for Facebook, maybe it's just a sign that the site is no longer popular just among teenyboppers and cool college kids. And maybe, just maybe - if we can all figure out the privacy settings - we can all coexist without our parents and grandparents ruining the party.

Comment from bankruptcy on 2010-12-05

2010-12-05T16:37:03Z

The listing of the term "rock and roll" as an interest is down over 60% among Facebook users in the past year.

Comment from WebVisible on 2010-11-23

2010-11-24T05:59:42Z

Though the Beatles and the Beach Boys started out playing Rock n Roll, they were a big part of its transformation into the more art-oriented Rock.

Comment from WebVisible on 2010-11-23

2010-11-23T09:26:41Z

Rock music, dance, techno, folk, electro, you name it - most people who are fans of music put it into more specific boxes and would list their interests as those.

Comment from Declaring Bankruptcy on 2010-11-19

2010-11-19T18:12:13Z

Students will receive highly specialized training in the digital environment, enabling them to develop their technical skills.

Comment from Caralluma Actives on 2010-10-17

2010-10-17T10:57:16Z

Though the Beatles and the Beach Boys started out playing Rock n Roll, they were a big part of its transformation into the more art-oriented Rock. Post-psychedelia and Woodstock,

Comment from Mykalai Kontilai on 2010-09-24

2010-09-24T09:39:18Z

He is one of the original pioneers of heavy metal and a true rock and roll icon who has outlasted all of his peers and shows no signs of slowing down.He's Motorhead's Lemmy and he's now the subject of a new documentary soon to premiere at SXSW.

Comment from Bathroom Vanity Units on 2010-09-02

2010-09-02T08:18:38Z

Facebook is quickly attracting a larger audience among older age groups. That acceptance is great news for social media.

Demographics, however, are only one of the key segmentation variables. And they’re not always actionable, because people aren’t monolithic by their demos.

Two things would be truly illuminating. Behavioral data–how members use Facebook (see David Henderson’s comment). And lifestyle info–which shines a light on how people see themselves and their interests.

Combine all that, without crossing privacy lines of course, and marketers will considerably improve their ability to target their programs to the most receptive audience.

Comment from Home Foreclosure Search on 2010-08-31

2010-08-31T12:46:54Z

More over-55 folks are getting accounts on facebook. I say that because I know plenty of people around this age that have recently joined facebook. They do it to keep in touch with their kids or (more likely) grandkids.

Comment from jump higher on 2010-08-31

2010-08-31T07:56:45Z

Comment from Argington Crib on 2010-08-30

2010-08-30T18:54:07Z

It is going to be heavily digitalized... More focus on synthesized music vs instrumental playing.

Comment from Argington Crib on 2010-08-30

2010-08-30T18:50:52Z

It's just a sign that the site is no longer popular just among teenyboppers and cool college kids.

Comment from $unny on 2010-08-26

2010-08-26T07:17:28Z

Rock & Roll Will Never Die? It Might on Facebook shows that how much users are thier in facebook the one info that i have got is that if facebook is a country??? then it would be most populated country after india and china

Comment from Health Guide on 2010-08-14

2010-08-15T05:14:11Z

LMAO I agree with this entirely, but I don't ever use the phrase rock and roll to begin with, it's much before my time.

Comment from healthy chocolate on 2010-07-26

2010-07-26T18:44:47Z

I think its good that the numbers for users of facebook identifying as high school or college students have returned to positive growth.

Comment from Bathtubs on 2010-07-26

2010-07-26T07:15:52Z

By the time Buffalo Springfield came along, it had already been shortened to just "rock music". Though the Beatles and the Beach Boys started out playing Rock n Roll, they were a big part of its transformation into the more art-oriented Rock.

Comment from HMS Home Warranty on 2010-07-23

2010-07-24T06:13:58Z

We have to unite in supporting each other to tour this great country to let every person within shrieking distance to know we are still here, or Rock really is dead.

Comment from Outdoor Clocks on 2010-07-21

2010-07-21T10:26:46Z

The Elephant in the room that few of us musicians will admit to however, is that we've been made just as comfortable by the corporate greed plaguing this world as anyone else.

Comment from IRS Tax Lawyer on 2010-07-13

2010-07-14T05:39:09Z

The exact numbers might be off, but it's easy for me to believe that more over-55 folks are getting accounts on facebook. I say that because I'm over 50, and I know plenty of people around my age that have recently joined facebook.

Comment from SEO content on 2010-07-13

2010-07-13T10:40:27Z

The use of the phrase "rock & roll" is a sign of being over 55? Sheesh, I never use it in relation to music other than that of the 50s. Rock music, dance, techno, folk, electro, you name it - most people who are fans of music put it into more specific boxes and would list their interests as those.

Comment from executive desk on 2010-07-06

2010-07-07T04:51:16Z

One thing is noticed to be here that by the time Buffalo Springfield came along, it had already been shortened to just "rock music". Though the Beatles and the Beach Boys started out playing Rock n Roll, they were a big part of its transformation into the more art-oriented Rock.

Comment from Danny DeMichele Photos on 2010-06-30

2010-06-30T10:14:38Z

I don't believe these statistics(3.9 million to 1.3 million listing "rock and roll").its just awesome.As an artist I think that the mission is really great.

Comment from ElectronicCigarettesCentral on 2010-06-23

2010-06-24T06:32:13Z

Facebook is for everybody - dont you get it? My teens told me about it and now I'm ta;lking with people I haven't talked with since High School!

Comment from Danny DeMichele Flikr on 2010-06-11

2010-06-11T08:52:36Z

I don't believe these statistics at all. It makes no sense.

Comment from E Cig on 2010-02-17

2010-02-17T20:37:42Z

Long live the greatest genre ever.

Your girl Mary :)

Comment from E Cig on 2010-02-16

2010-02-17T03:01:18Z

Long live Rock & Roll.

Your girl Mary :)

Comment from Lasith on 2010-01-21

2010-01-21T13:01:22Z

Scary post!

Especially considering the fact that I run a Rock and Roll lifestyle magazine, and at present we focus most of our publicity efforts around targeted facebook campaigns!

Comment from Jane on 2010-01-10

2010-01-10T19:51:00Z

OK So I guess I've been given the menial task to do the research on who sang the words first "Rock n' Roll Will Never Die". It's Danny and the Juniors.

http://tabcrawler.com/2413504/Danny-and-The-Juniors/Rock-'N-Roll-Is-Here-To-Stay-Lyrics

However, with that said, I still say Neil Young is the One who coined the phrase in our heads and made it an earwhig, not Danny and the Juniors.

.....And so what if we got a few stray gray hairs growing outta our heads. Does she or doesn't she? (a well known phrase from a commerical for hair dye back back in the 70's for those who ahve no clue) Well I do. I know who Spearhead is and I like them. So there.

Comment from life jackets on 2010-01-08

2010-01-08T11:09:01Z

I just wanted to let everyone know about a new forum for artists as well as musicians, fashion designers, and filmmakers, As an artist I think that the mission is really great. The site gives you a free gigabyte of space for portfolio, there is no commission taken for sales, audio and visual works can been streamed in their entirety, you can create live personal broadcasts for your followers, and anything you write will be translated into 10 languages. So check it out!

Comment from cruelroad on 2010-01-07

2010-01-08T07:42:40Z

not for nothing, when musicians have to construct pie charts proving the possibility for exponential growth fiscally upon investment in their projects,Rock and Roll could be argued to be dying. The Elephant in the room that few of us musicians will admit to however, is that we've been made just as comfortable by the corporate greed plaguing this world as anyone else.
As long as we continue to try to "play the game"
we can only lose, and lose terribly. We have to unite in supporting each other to tour this great country to let every person within shrieking distance to know we are still here, or Rock really is dead.
Chris Colantuono
Cruel Road

Comment from E cigarette on 2010-01-05

2010-01-06T01:09:42Z

Expect a new genre of music to hit the scene. It is going to be heavily digitalized... More focus on synthesized music vs instrumental playing. There is still going to be a lot of talent, but it is going to be much different.

Comment from Medisoft on 2010-01-05

2010-01-06T00:12:49Z

Just because Neil Young didn't come up with the phrase doesn't mean he's not the one who didn't make it popular.

Rock on!!

Comment from Garance A Drosehn on 2010-01-05

2010-01-05T22:06:56Z

wrt the increase in those over 55: The exact numbers might be off, but it's easy for me to believe that more over-55 folks are getting accounts on facebook. I say that because I'm over 50, and I know plenty of people around my age that have recently joined facebook. They do it to keep in touch with their kids or (more likely) grandkids, or they do it to keep in touch with their over-50 friends who are having fun.

It would be interesting to see if there is an unusual number of people who claim to be 69 or 99, but I suspect the statistics are reasonably close to correct. Also note that new users are not asked to "state their age", they're asked "what is your birthday".

Comment from bobbly on 2010-01-05

2010-01-05T15:49:36Z

Might be because "older" folks use it to reconnect with "lost" friends while younger folks are still connected and my use other social networking or just plain texting to communicate?

Comment from macmvn on 2010-01-05

2010-01-05T15:47:42Z

My My Hey Hey
Rock and Roll is Here to Stay

It's Better to Burn Out Than to Fade Away

Keep on Rockin' in the Free World

Comment from Justin Wright on 2010-01-05

2010-01-05T14:38:18Z

Why would anyone use Facebook when they can use MySpace instread??

RT
www.total-anonymity.at.tc

Comment from Bill on 2010-01-05

2010-01-05T14:17:55Z

I'd think the biggest story out of those stats is the -55% for current college students...is that correct?! Considering only 25% (at most) graduated, did tons of college students delete their accounts?

Comment from Suzanne Burge on 2010-01-05

2010-01-05T11:37:55Z

Can anyone tell me where I can find up to date statistics on ages of Facebook users for other countries - specifically UK?

Comment from Bob Calder on 2010-01-05

2010-01-05T11:33:56Z

Cut out "69" to filter out joke ages.

Comment from Mojo Bone on 2010-01-05

2010-01-05T10:09:23Z

Donnacha is correct-Neil Young never recorded much Rock n Roll, except for that Rockabilly album he put out in the eighties. By the time Buffalo Springfield came along, it had already been shortened to just "rock music". Though the Beatles and the Beach Boys started out playing Rock n Roll, they were a big part of its transformation into the more art-oriented Rock. Post-psychedelia and Woodstock, the rock n roll pretty much faded out, though you'll still occasionally hear its echoes in the odd Avril Lavigne or Green Day track.

Comment from bumps65 on 2010-01-04

2010-01-05T05:29:05Z

When I was a teen many in the social media;teachers;parents
all said "Rock n Roll" was a fad and would soon dissapear.Why make a fuss.It will soon go away.Tell that to the Rolling Stones.It's still alive; as I said "it is here to stay."

Comment from Donnacha DeLong on 2010-01-04

2010-01-05T01:42:36Z

Surely the use of the phrase "rock & roll" is a sign of being over 55? Sheesh, I never use it in relation to music other than that of the 50s. Rock music, dance, techno, folk, electro, you name it - most people who are fans of music put it into more specific boxes and would list their interests as those. Personally, I just have the word music and a long list of favourites (I'm only 34, by the way).

Comment from marvin on 2010-01-04

2010-01-05T01:30:18Z

I don't believe these statistics at all (re: 3.9 million to 1.3 million listing "rock and roll".) Makes no sense. I'm betting it's an error in calculation somehow.

For such a stat to be accurate at least 2 out of every 3 people listing this interest deleted it (assuming that no new members listed it, which is absurd.)

Obviously incorrect!

Comment from Bob on 2010-01-04

2010-01-05T00:27:56Z

I have a problem with the huge increase of 'over 55's. When you sign up for FB it asks for your age. MANY kids who do not want to admit their true age put '99 years old'. That's got to inflate the over 55 category.

Comment from Mike Melanson on 2010-01-04

2010-01-04T22:49:58Z

Now, now, I didn't say Neil Young came up with the phrase, but surely you've had that whiney song stuck in your head before, no? :)

Comment from Bernard on 2010-01-04

2010-01-04T22:20:09Z

ROCK AND ROLL IS HERE TO STAY
(This is the first lyric I can recall with that phrase. Now all you need to do is Google for the artist.)

Rock 'n roll is here to stay,
it will never die
It was meant to be that way,
though I don't know why
I don't care what people say,
rock 'n roll is here to stay
(We don't care what people say,
rock 'n roll is here to stay)

Comment from dataGuy on 2010-01-04

2010-01-04T21:07:18Z

I got a good chuckle out of you attributing the phrase "Rock N' Roll Will Never Die" to Neil Young; thanks. You'll have to go back to the beginning of rock to get to the origin of that phrase. If you like rock music you should find the research enjoyable.