The swing music had swept every American off their feet through the 1920s and 1930s. This new form of music boosted the morale of American soldiers at the war front, while it helped in achieving racial harmony on the home front. There is no other genre of music that can be so strongly identified with the authentic American culture. The first half of the twentieth century had witnessed the prolific rise and popularity of the swingand big band music. But, what led to its decline by the final years of the same century? People who would flock to the dance halls to watch their favorite bid bands perform gradually turned their back to this form of music. Why did people’s listening habits change? Do you ever ponder over the theories that try justifying and explaining the fall of swing music? Well, in this blog, we shed light on such theories and explore the reasons for the downfall.
What were the possible reasons for the downfall of swing music?
The Musician
Strike – It was in 1942 that the
American Federation of Musicians organized a strike against US recording
companies over the issue of royalty. Lasting for two-year-long, this strike
forbade the members of this federation to record for major companies of those
times. Due to the strike, the union members who were big bands and orchestras
missed out on the opportunity of being heard and eventually lost connection
with the American population. But, solo vocalists who maintained a distance
from the strike now capitalized on the opportunity and rose to popularity.
Memories of
World War II – Although big bands played
a key role in boosting the war spirit, Americans were hesitant to embrace the
genre after the end of the war because it reminded them of everything
associated with the tragedy. To start afresh, they tried distancing themselves
from this style of music. Moreover, with Glenn Miller disappearing in a plane
and never returning, swing music did not remain the same for the audience. It
offered less solace and caused them tremendous mental turmoil instead.
Rise of Rock n
Roll – After World War II, the next
American generations shared little to no affinity with the big
band swing music. Although bebop, a new variant of jazz came to the
fore, it could not stand its ground and soon got overshadowed by the craze of
rock n roll. While Elvis Presley had dominated throughout the 1950s, The
Beatles created a revolutionary rage in the 1960s. With Americans diving into
the magic of rock n roll, it became all clear that there was no turning back to
the big band era anymore.
Cabaret Tax Imposition
– In 1944, the US government announced
the passing of the cabaret tax to fund war efforts. The tax was levied against
all public places that served refreshment and merchandise along with hosting
dancing and music shows. It would not be wrong to say that this tax was like a
nail in the coffin of the swing and big band music. To
avoid the payment of taxes, night clubs began hiring small bands and overlooked
the big band orchestras. These developments shifted swing jazz from ballrooms
to small sit-down clubs. With large orchestras taking a back seat, the new
genre of bebop came into prominence and appealed to new generations.
Tension within
the Genre – Several swing artists wanted
jazz to be presented and enjoyed like classical music. Prominent bandleaders
like Artie Shaw left the profession because of their reluctance to record swing
music for dance. The failure to keep up with the latest listening habits of
people could be considered as one of the reasons that toppled swing from its
peak of popularity.
Conclusion – It is not just one factor but all the points in
combination that led to the decline of swing music. Notwithstanding its
downfall, we still endeavor to keep the memories of the swing era, the age of
original American music, alive through Swing Street Radio. To enjoy the
greatest swing hits, you can tune into the frequency or visit the 24*7 online
radio for the maximum entertainment.
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