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Corporate rock is an often pejorative term used primarily by music critics to describe rock music, particularly music from arena rock bands, which are alleged to be purely commercial, formulaic, or lacking in creativity or authenticity. According to these critics, the primary goal of the corporate rock artist or band in making music is profit and radio airplay rather than artistic creativity. As a result, corporate rock is typified by catchy, mainstream radio-friendly, formulaic songs following a pop music model. The term was first used in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Despite the negative opinions of critics, many corporate rock bands attained a high degree of commercial success, and some still have loyal followings today. A critic (derived from the ancient Greek word krites meaning a judge) is a person who offers a value judgement or an interpretation. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up Creativity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Look up authenticity, authentic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For popular forms of music in general, see Popular music. ...

Origins

Corporate rock is somewhat unique among musical genres in that it is a term used almost exclusively by critics and musical purists. It is used primarily in a condescending and dismissive way by those who feel that corporate rock has little to add to music. The exact origins of the term are uncertain, but by the early 1980s, it was being applied with frequency to bands such as Journey, Foreigner, Styx, REO Speedwagon, and Boston. Some did have classical based progressive roots, like Journey (though without Steve Perry), Styx and Kansas, but became homogenized. Although the term has faded from common usage, some people use it to describe contemporary bands who they feel live down to its definition. A purist is one who desires that a particular item remain true to its essence and free from adulterating or diluting influences. ... Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California. ... Foreigner is a pop/rock band formed in New York City in 1976 by veteran musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, along with then unknown vocalist Lou Gramm (Louis Grammatico). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... REO Speedwagon is an American rock band which grew in popularity in the Midwestern United States during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California. ... Stephen Ray Perry (born January 22, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Kansas (disambiguation). ...

Bands

As no rock groups identify their music as being "corporate rock," it is obviously difficult to definitively label bands as being a part of this genre. However, one can quite easily list some of the bands which have been vilified by critics (fairly or unfairly) as exemplifying the worst of this genre.

• As mentioned above, Styx is often given as a prime example of corporate rock. Fans of the band argue that Styx was musically innovative in bringing an operatic style to rock music; critics charge that their melodic hooks and over-the-top style were uncreative and derivative.

• Journey has often been labelled as corporate rock, especially after their 1981 nine-times platinum album Escape and its three Top 10 singles. The album was obviously a hit with the public, but critics derided the aggressive, repetitive "power ballads".

• Bon Jovi has also been labelled as corporate rock, for many of the same reasons as Journey. Critics disliked what they felt were trite, empty power ballads with little to say.

Groups or artists which have been labelled "corporate rock" include: This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... Journeys seventh album, Escape, was released in August of 1981. ... To emphasize the emotional aspect of a power ballad, crowds customarily hold up lit lighters. ... Bon Jovi is a hard rock band originating from Sayreville, New Jersey. ...

• Bryan Adams
• Alter Bridge
• Asia
• Bon Jovi
• Boston
• Bush
• The Cars
• Creed
• Daughtry
• Def Leppard
• Default
• Director
• Europe
• Fall Out Boy
• Firehouse
• Foreigner
• Peter Frampton
• Hinder
• Journey
• Lifehouse
• Limp Bizkit
• Linkin Park
• Loverboy
• Eddie Money
• My Chemical Romance
• Nickelback
• Night Ranger
• Panic! at the Disco
• REO Speedwagon
• Staind
• Starship
• Stone Temple Pilots
• Styx
• Survivor
• Theory of a Dead Man
• .38 Special
• 3 Doors Down
• Toto
• Whitesnake
• Winger

Bryan Adams OC, OBC, (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian rock singer, guitarist, songwriter and photographer. ... Alter Bridge is an American rock band[1] formed by Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips (former members of Creed), with Myles Kennedy (lead vocals and guitar formerly of The Mayfield Four). ... Asia is an arena rock/progressive rock group. ... Bon Jovi is a hard rock band originating from Sayreville, New Jersey. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Cars were an American New Wave band, one of the most popular to emerge out of the early punk scene in the late 1970s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Daughtry may refer to: Daughtry (band), a post-grunge rock band Daughtry (album) self-titled debut album of the aforementioned artist Chris Daughtry, American Idol finalist and lead vocalist for DAUGHTRY Dean Daughtry, American keyboardist with the Atlanta Rhythm Section N. Leo Daughtry, American state senator from North Carolina (Republican... Def Leppard are an English hard rock band from Sheffield who formed in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. ... Default is a Canadian post-grunge/Alternative Rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia. ... Director are a pop rock quartet from Dublin, Ireland. ... Europe is a Swedish hard rock band originally assembled as a progressive rock group; they later added keyboards to their sound in order to soften it, in hopes of gaining radio airplay. ... Fall Out Boy (commonly abbreviated as FOB) is an American band from Wilmette, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) that formed in 2001. ... For the Dixieland jazz band, see Firehouse Five Plus Two FireHouse is an American hard rock band formed in Charlotte, NC in 1989 and named after the Kiss song of the same name. ... Foreigner is a pop/rock band formed in New York City in 1976 by veteran musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, along with then unknown vocalist Lou Gramm (Louis Grammatico). ... Peter Kenneth Frampton (born April 22, 1950 in Beckenham, Kent) is an English musician, best known today for his solo work in the mid-1970s and as one of the original members of the band Humble Pie. ... This article is about the American rock band. ... Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco, California. ... Lifehouse has two ambiguous entries: Lifehouse unreleased album by The Who Lifehouse the US band. ... Limp Bizkit (alternately written as limpbizkit) is a nu metal band from Jacksonville, Florida. ... Linkin Park is a rock band from Agoura Hills, California. ... Loverboy is a Canadian rock group formed in 1980 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ... Eddie Money (born Edward Joseph Mahoney, March 2, 1949) is an American rock musician and singer who found success in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of Top 40 hits and platinum albums. ... My Chemical Romance are an American rock band formed in 2001. ... This article is about the Canadian rock band. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Panic! at the Disco is an alternative rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. ... REO Speedwagon is an American rock band which grew in popularity in the Midwestern United States during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. ... Staind is an American alternative metal group[1][2] from Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. ... Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the LSD-influenced psychedelic rock movement. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Survivor is an American rock band formed in 1977 by core members Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... .38 Special (also written 38 Special and Thirty-Eight Special) is an American rock band named for the . ... 3 Doors Down is an American alternative rock band formed in Escatawpa, Mississippi in 1994 by Brad Arnold (vocals and drums), Matt Roberts (guitar) and Todd Harrell (bass). ... Toto (IPA pronunciation: ) is a Grammy Award winning American rock band that was founded in 1976 by some of the most popular and experienced session musicians of the era. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Winger is an American Hard Rock/Glam Metal band from New York City. ...

Contemporary usage

Although use of the term "corporate rock" as a criticism declined through the 1990s, it is applied to a few contemporary bands such as Nickelback, Creed, Green Day and 3 Doors Down. Many critics believe that entire genres such as Post-Grunge and Nu-Metal were created by corporate executives. The same criticisms as before apply: the music is derivative, radio-friendly, and profit-motivated. Critics are constantly frustrated that these bands, despite their perceived lack of originality, continue to be successful. The criticism has also been applied to some hard rock bands such as Puddle of Mudd, Staind, and Limp Bizkit. This article is about the Canadian rock band. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the band Green Day. ... 3 Doors Down is an American alternative rock band formed in Escatawpa, Mississippi in 1994 by Brad Arnold (vocals and drums), Matt Roberts (guitar) and Todd Harrell (bass). ... Post-grunge is a very diverse subgenre of Alternative Rock music that emerged in the mid-1990s immediately following the downfall of grunge music as an offshoot. ... Nu metal (pronounced new metal) is a musical genre that typically fuses influences from the grunge[1] and alternative metal of the 1990s with funk music, hip-hop, and various heavy metal genres, most often thrash metal and groove metal. ... “Hard Rock” redirects here. ... Puddle of Mudd is an American post-grunge band from Kansas City, Missouri, United States. ... Staind is an American alternative metal group[1][2] from Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. ... Limp Bizkit (alternately written as limpbizkit) is a nu metal band from Jacksonville, Florida. ...

References

• 3 Doors Down Back With Same Familiar Formula of Corporate-Friendly Rock
• Corporate Rock Still Sucks
• Best Corporate Rock Band