The 18%: Why Super Fans Are Keeping Music Alive (and Festivals Are Failing)
Welcome back, friends, to another episode of Songs That Don’t Suck, hosted by the ever-passionate Mark Bradbourne — your guide through the sonic jungle of new releases and musical insights that matter.
🎧 We Are the 18%
This week, Mark kicks things off with a deep dive into Luminate’s 2024 mid-year music report, spotlighting the 18% of listeners—the super fans—who are still buying merch, attending shows, streaming everything, and even keeping CDs and vinyl alive. This elite squad of music lovers (yes, that includes you) is the lifeblood of the industry while streaming growth plateaus and festival culture falters.
According to Luminate:
- 📉 Streaming growth is down from 8% to 5%
- 📀 Physical media sales are up 4%
- 🎟️ Festival attendance is plummeting, especially in the U.S.
Is this a nostalgia-fueled return to meaningful music engagement? Or are we just tired of soulless, screen-filled festival fields and 8-second skips on Spotify? Either way, Bradbourne’s take is clear: “We’re the ones who’ll wear a $90 hoodie until it turns into a blanket.”
🔥 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck
🥇 Madalena – Goose
Goose drops another full album, just four months after their last—an impressive feat in today’s singles-driven market. “Madalena” opens with a lush piano line and slowly builds with thoughtful instrumentation. Think blessed union of souls, but with more nuance and less cheese. Goose proves, once again, they’re a beacon of musical integrity in a world of overproduced fluff.
🎧 Recommended if you like: ambient builds, instrumental storytelling, piano-driven rock
🥈 Spinning – The Royston Club
A sonic nod to Radiohead’s The Bends/Pablo Honey era, “Spinning” is full of reverb-rich vocals, clean falsettos, and a raw, emotional bridge that hits hard. The Royston Club might not be new, but they’re new to Mark—and now officially on the radar.
🎧 Recommended if you like: early Radiohead, emotional alt-rock, well-placed falsetto
🥉 Yellowhammer – The Trusted
Hard to categorize (in the best way), The Trusted’s Yellowhammer blends indie pop and alt-rock with a repeating four-note violin motif that lingers in your brain—maybe even when it’s not actually there. It’s trippy, catchy, and brilliantly constructed.
🎧 Recommended if you like: genre-bending bands, synth-meets-guitar mashups, brain-tingling motifs
🌴 Oasis – Grace Potter
A song that’s “new but old enough to vote.” Recorded 18 years ago with legendary producer T-Bone Burnett, “Oasis” finally sees the light on her latest album Medicine. Grace’s voice is stunning as always, and the trumpet solo at the end is pure smoky lounge brilliance. Shades of Sheryl Crow’s “We Do What We Can.”
🎧 Recommended if you like: Grace Potter, timeless vocals, vintage vibes
🧱 Stonehenge – Spinal Tap ft. Elton John
Yes, that Stonehenge. But this time? It’s Elton John on piano and vocals, backed by a full symphony orchestra. Dramatic, tongue-in-cheek, and utterly magnificent. A teaser from the upcoming Spinal Tap sequel soundtrack.
🎧 Recommended if you like: musical parody at its finest, Elton John doing the absurd beautifully
📬 Support the Show & Stay in the Loop
Want more Songs That Don’t Suck in your life? Head over to songsthatdontsuck.net to:
- 🎵 Subscribe to the newsletter for free downloads from the live music archive
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Don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe on your podcast platform of choice. And if you’re at a show, wear the merch, spark a convo, and bring another music nerd into the 18%.
