Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
At the end of June a series of UK music video channels will be no more. Channel 4, which operates Kerrang!, The Box, 4Music, Kiss and Magic, is closing them all to cut costs. The channels gained huge popularity in the 2000s, but advertising revenue and viewing figures have declined. Streaming service algorithms create everchanging and individually tailored playlists to spoil users. This, along with the dwindling number of independent concert venues and the demise of the British music press, has made it harder than ever for musicians to gain traction without the help of algorithms. Songs featuring on a popular playlist or going viral on TikTok are now better routes to success, but that success is near-impossible to predict. Only a handful of music television channels remain on UK TV, and they mainly focus on nostalgia. Video may have killed the radio star; streaming now has video in its grasp.
