Trev Lukather, son of Toto’s Steve Lukather and musician in his own right, recently shared his perspective on the current state of rock music. He addressed what he sees as the genre’s primary challenge in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The musician’s comments focused on what he believes rock music needs to regain its prominence in the music industry.
“Rock needs great songs to bring it back to the front of the line,” Lukather said. “There are a lot of great bands with no songs.”
He expanded on this theme, suggesting the issue extends beyond just rock music.
“Great/timeless songs have been missing in all genres for the last few years,” he continued. “Cream rises to the top every time.”
Lukather’s observations highlight his belief that songwriting quality, rather than musical talent alone, is the key factor determining success in today’s music landscape.
Trev Lukather’s perspective comes from his experience as a guitarist in the rock band Levara. This gives him firsthand insight into the challenges facing contemporary rock musicians. His comments reflect broader industry discussions about rock music’s position in today’s streaming-dominated landscape.
The data supports some of Lukather’s observations about rock’s current standing. YouGov found that nearly half of all Americans say rock music is one of their favorite genres (48%). This puts it well ahead of pop music (40%). However, the same research reveals that rock fans attend live gigs less frequently than rap or hip-hop enthusiasts. This suggests a disconnect between preference and active engagement.
Despite concerns about rock’s decline, recent developments indicate potential for resurgence. Chartmetric reported that acts like Sleep Token have topped the Billboard 200 with their 2025 album Even In Arcadia. This signals some hard rock resurgence amid broader streaming dominance by other genres. This success demonstrates that quality songwriting and innovative approaches can still propel rock acts to commercial heights.
The streaming era has fundamentally changed how rock music competes for attention. Hypebot noted that searches for rock music are up 600% on Spotify. This suggests growing interest despite the genre’s perceived struggles. This increase in search activity indicates that audiences are actively seeking rock content. It supports Lukather’s argument that the genre needs better songs rather than abandoning hope entirely.
