Rap isn't crap. And it's the most popular music in the under-18 demographic nationwide. While there is a TON of bad rap music out there, dismissing it as crap dismisses the cultural significance of a major musical genre and social influence. And there's just as much terrible pop, country, rock, and other genres out there as there is rap.

Twist and Shout, a song I played in high school and an awesome tune, is now nearly sixty years old (58, released in 1964). To liken it to someone who is 64 years old, it'd be like going to one of your own high school football games and playing Al Jolson or Alexander's Ragtime Band (both popular songs from 1912, or 58 years before you were 18 years old). Not saying you're playing T&S, but it was an example song that came to mind from my own experience.

Even our "go-to" hype songs like Seven Nation Army are getting up there in age. That one came out nearly two decades ago itself - it's from 2003.

While there's a place for "classics" it's important for ALL of us to realize that 99% of our audience couldn't care less. They want to hear what's on the radio and the music they know and like.

That 99% is who pays our bills and renews our contracts. Why do you think most college bands each have about six or seven stand chant tunes (almost no full songs) that they cycle through over and over?