I was thinking about a band I like alot yesterday: Beastie Boys. I had heard on the radio, that despite the popularity of a song such as “Fight for Your Right”, they absolutely, positively refuse to play it as part of their live performance. Their reasons for not playing it is that that song simply doesn’t represent them at all anymore. They have evolved beyond that.
From my perspective as a fan, I want to hear that song. I identify more with their older music, and not quite as much with their newer music. I like the newer stuff. It’s great. But, I fully identify with their older stuff. So, Beastie Boys have effectively alienated me (and many others like me) from their fan base. I probably would never go see them play live unless I knew they were going to play a selection of older music.
If Beastie Boys continued to play their older music, they would keep a fan base of aging boomers. But, they probably would not pick up too many newer fans.
Most musicians seem to teeter the line a bit; they play some older music, play some newer music, and try to appease everyone while continuing to grow their fan base. Aerosmith, for example, still plays “Dream On” at concerts. I think “Dream On” is from their first album (or maybe released as a single after their first album). And, I heard Steven Tyler say that he wrote that song when he was 15 years old, and he has no idea what it’s supposed to mean. The point is that they diversify and move forward, but also celebrate where they came from by playing the older music too.
The worst situation is to be like Lynyrd Skynyrd, where all you have is your old stuff and nothing new at all.
All artists evolve. It is inevitable. Whether you decide to be like the Beastie Boys, Aerosmith, or god forbid, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the decision is a personal one, but just understand the effects that your decision has on your business.
Cheers.
