Yes’ fandom decline

[patrickq]

If this forum is any indication, there’s been a drop-off in Yes fandom over the past few years, even more clearly over the past several months.* I assume that’s due to the age of the average fan. Yes, there are probably some 19-year-olds here, but waiting for new, young fans to fill in the ranks of the old doesn’t sound like it’s going to turn the trend around.

You know what, though? Yes is still releasing albums and touring after well over 50 years. They’re already forgotten by many, and they’ll be even more so at their 60th anniversary. But wait… 50 years? Induction into the RRHoF? Let’s face it, they’ve had a great run—so far.

I’m sad to see fandom dwindle, but I have to admit that there’s a real upside.


*based on the number of new posts each 24 hours.

[Gilly Goodness]

I did notice The Guardian reviewed Heaven and Earth but not TQ or MttS. Delayed tours don't help momentum. But. You know what? Bands like Big Big Train or Marillion or Magenta would kill for Yesfan numbers. And. All the peer bands like Genesis or ELP or Floyd are done and dusted.

By all accounts MttS has received a universally warm reception and the news of another album bein' worked on now is welcome and excitin'. The composin' by The Golden Triangle of Howe, Davison and Sherwood has really coalesced beautifully. With wonderfully clever support from Downes and Schellen, The Pentagon of Power, 5 men committed to the cause of creatin' powerful and melodic music, 5 men dedicated to the concentric circles of YESmusic.

What a time to be alive. 😁



__________________________________________


AFFIRM THE PRINCIPAL OF UNITY

[josuev80]

If this forum is any indication, there’s been a drop-off in Yes fandom over the past few years, even more clearly over the past several months.* I assume that’s due to the age of the average fan. Yes, there are probably some 19-year-olds here, but waiting for new, young fans to fill in the ranks of the old doesn’t sound like it’s going to turn the trend around.

You know what, though? Yes is still releasing albums and touring after well over 50 years. They’re already forgotten by many, and they’ll be even more so at their 60th anniversary. But wait… 50 years? Induction into the RRHoF? Let’s face it, they’ve had a great run—so far.

I’m sad to see fandom dwindle, but I have to admit that there’s a real upside.


*based on the number of new posts each 24 hours.

A good number of the “new” posts are people restating the same facts and their same opinions over and over again along with multiple rankings and poll threads. Without a tour, there is even less to discuss except some future studio albums without release dates.

[luvyesmusic]

A good number of the “new” posts are people restating the same facts and their same opinions over and over again along with multiple rankings and poll threads. Without a tour, there is even less to discuss except some future studio albums without release dates.

This site has become a reboot of sorts, with the gracious John starting it up, again, and giving it new life to some degree.
I do appreciate the enthusiasm of some to get it going, again, and making it familiar.

I was making regular donations for a period of time when it was Tim’s. I have also taken long sabbaticals at times. Shame, well I don’t know if it was even an option at that time, and being a mod for a short time when the old site was hit by bots was a lot of damn work, shame that there seemed like no possibility to save all the old history and posts of the old site. It was a treasure trove, many contributors now rotting in the grave.

[Soundchaser413]

I think there's been a drop off in Yes fans over the past 30 years and even more so in the past 15 years. Not to get into a pro or con Jon A. debate but imo they would have more fans (maybe retaining those that left) if Jon A. was still in the band. Regardless, the glory days of Yes are long gone. Their most recent album didn't even crack the top 200 in the US.

As for younger Yes fans (or people discovering Yes for the first time which is most likely to be younger fans) I won't say there aren't any but I think Pink Floyd, Rush and King Crimson have a lot more younger fans imo.

[pianozach]

This site has become a reboot of sorts, with the gracious John starting it up, again, and giving it new life to some degree.
I do appreciate the enthusiasm of some to get it going, again, and making it familiar.

Yes, it was nice of John to make the monumental effort to keep it all going.

I think that there are many, many more Yes fans out there that ceased visiting the "old" Yesfans for various reasons. I know several. They have moved on, and are unlikely to participate again in this sort of site for this particular band. Pity.

I have several strong opinions about this issue, but I'll refrain from dragging out the dirty laundry.

[soundchaser09]

A big part of it is of course the fact that Yes has not been commercially successful since the 80s. They have been niche for decades and thus haven't brought in many new fans of my sort of age. That says nothing about the quality of the albums however: Talk, The Ladder, Magnification, Fly From Here and Mirror to the Sky are particularly great albums, but there is little appetite for the young to seek them out generally. I found Yes through my mum initially.

Ultimately bands will always go out of favour in the mainstream though as tastes change. I personally am extremely grateful for the past 30 years of Yes and how they've carried on creating.

[Ceasar’s Palace]

I’ve never cared about whether Yes was popular or not and likewise don’t care if Yesfans is popular or not. It’s up to Yes to make the band work and up to us (and John) to make this site work.

[John Vehadija]

Now it seems to be a quiet period, but I actually had to upgrade the traffic for the site, we had a jump with the release of the new album. I hope in time, more people will come here if we keep this place without hate and with valuable posts

[agentarmstrong]

I love this website. Very grateful to have a sense of "Yes fan COMMUNITY" like this, curated and even with family tree options, to give and take (heh) with other fans here - about YES, their members, and the progressive rock world at large.

Thank you, John - and thank you to all who read and contribute.

/AgentA\
-Douglas

[patrickq]

Now it seems to be a quiet period, but I actually had to upgrade the traffic for the site, we had a jump with the release of the new album. I hope in time, more people will come here if we keep this place without hate and with valuable posts

That’s promising. Thank you, John, for being a great admin.

[Roundabob]

Now it seems to be a quiet period, but I actually had to upgrade the traffic for the site, we had a jump with the release of the new album. I hope in time, more people will come here if we keep this place without hate and with valuable posts

Thanks John for all that you have done to create and maintain this site. It is great to have a place to discuss Yes music and other interesting topics. Thank you!

[jskawaken1]

Well if album sales are any indication, they are doing great. The 3 last albums charted higher than anything in 20 years. And their last tour sold out in many venues. For a 50 year old band they re doing just fine.

[michelforest]

If this forum is any indication, there’s been a drop-off in Yes fandom over the past few years, even more clearly over the past several months.* I assume that’s due to the age of the average fan. Yes, there are probably some 19-year-olds here, but waiting for new, young fans to fill in the ranks of the old doesn’t sound like it’s going to turn the trend around.

You know what, though? Yes is still releasing albums and touring after well over 50 years. They’re already forgotten by many, and they’ll be even more so at their 60th anniversary. But wait… 50 years? Induction into the RRHoF? Let’s face it, they’ve had a great run—so far.

I’m sad to see fandom dwindle, but I have to admit that there’s a real upside.


*based on the number of new posts each 24 hours.

It's a 55 year-old band with no original musician left and only one who has a real past with it. And the average age of the fans is what? 62? No surprise there.

[pianozach]

It's a 55 year-old band with no original musician left and only one who has a real past with it. And the average age of the fans is what? 62? No surprise there.

The Beatles were arguably the most famous Rock/Pop band of the 1960s, and there are folks that have not only never heard any of their released tracks, but have never heard of the band.

30 years ago the joke was "Did you know that Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?"