By Adam Waldman (Publisher/Editor)
When Hard Rock Daddy launched on March 1, 2013, the direction of the site was much different than were we are today. Truth be told, I didn’t really have a five-year plan at the time. What started out as a passion project has turned into something much more than I could have ever imagined. The highs have certainly outweighed the lows, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been some trying times and disappointments along the way.
The five-year anniversary of the site provides an opportunity to celebrate what’s been accomplished so far, but the future is what has me really excited.
Since our launch, the mission has been to do as much as possible to help hard rock fans discover new music. More importantly, we have organically become the home of the developing artist. We treat these artists with the same respect that we would give to artists that have been around for several decades. Personally speaking, I like to think of Hard Rock Daddy as “the great equalizer,” with a passion for championing independent artists.
If you take a look at the annual top hard rock song lists that we have published since our inception (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), you’ll see a consistent trend of songs being ranked by merit rather than status. This is a trend that will continue into the future.
Though it may seem counterintuitive to bypass some big name artists for relative unknowns, the formula has proven to be a successful one. Thanks to our readers, these annual lists have become incredibly popular.
Of course, the driving force behind the success of these annual lists is the artists themselves helping to spread the word through their respective fanbases. While the lists have been shared by some of the biggest names in the genre, the heavy lifting has been done by the hungry up-and-comers. It makes sense given that Hard Rock Daddy is an “in-the-trenches” type of site that relates to these types of artists on a deeper level than most.
So, what does the future hold for Hard Rock Daddy?
Recent events have made the direction that I plan on taking with the site crystal clear. Not only will we continue to champion developing artists, we are going to do even more than before to fight for the underdogs as we roll out new ventures.
The first step of this process will be announced tomorrow. This exciting venture was actually brought to me by a band that has been featured on the site recently. It’s all about strength in numbers. As the saying goes, “a rising tide lifts all boats.”
Moving forward, Hard Rock Daddy will become a hub for a number of developing artists. We will be creating vehicles to package these artists together. More details will follow as things unfold.
We’ve had a number of inquiries about Hard Rock Daddy merchandise. In the near future, we will be launching a line of HRD swag as part of a bigger venture that will include developing artists. The plan is to offer a unique way to support both musical artists and designers.
Talks have begun to launch an HRD podcast, as well as for HRD branded live events. All of these offerings will be designed with both the artist and the music fan (HRD reader) in mind.
In addition to these bigger picture plans, in the near future, we are going to be giving readers opportunities to talk about their favorite artists on the site. We will also be resuming “My Rock And Roll Journey” (which has been temporarily on hiatus), and other artist-driven features designed to create a stronger bond between the artist and readers.
In addition to contributions from readers and artists, we are currently in talks with industry insiders to contribute to the site. The insight that they share will directly benefit the numerous artists who read the site. At the same time, it will give music fans a behind-the-scenes look at how the industry works.
Last, but certainly not least, I would like to personally thank those who have contributed to Hard Rock Daddy in the past, and those who currently contribute. Without all of you, we never would have been where we are today.
I truly appreciate all of the support that we’ve received from our readers over the past five years, and value your input. Please feel free to contact us with anything that you’d like to see on the site in the future.
Long live rock and roll! \m/
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