Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has publicly stated his belief that rock music was deliberately sidelined in the late 1990s to make room for rap and hip-hop, arguing that the shift was forced rather than a natural decline in popularity.
Speaking on his podcast, The Magnificent Others, Corgan shared his perspective on the state of the music industry during that era:
- The "Shift": Corgan claimed that around 1997-1998, outlets like MTV and the broader music industry "suddenly decided rock was out," despite the genre still being massive at the time.
- Forced Marginalization: He described the change as a conscious effort to "dial down" rock, suggesting it was replaced by rap and pop, which allowed for a change in "standards and practices" (e.g., allowing explicit content like guns in videos).
- The "Wizard Behind the Curtain": Corgan suggested an unseen industry force or "wizard" manipulated the shift to make room for more profitable or controllable genres.
- Irony of Continued Popularity: Corgan pointed out the irony that rock bands still sell massive concert tickets worldwide today, yet have minimal representation in mainstream media compared to the 90s.
- The "Controlled" Element: He implied that the industry pushed out rock because rock artists were harder to control, whereas other genres allowed for a "safer" or more easily manufactured product.