What factors significantly influenced the decline of the big band in the mid 1940s? Please answer with at least two paragraphs, providing at least two factors that influenced the decline of the big band.

Memories of wartime, musicians strike of 1942 and rise of new genres

Explanation:

Many factors influenced the decline of the Big bands in the second half of the 1940s and afterward. It is likely that they all combined at the time and caused the end of the swing era and the popularity of Big band music.

Some of the most defined are:

Reminders of the war – big bands and swing music were at the peak of the popularity during World War II, and they were one of the main entertaining elements during the horrors of war. Big bands would often perform for the armies in order to raise morale, and swing music was used as the counter-culture in the occupied lands. Because of this, people started associating big bands with wartime, so they did not want to bring back the memories after the war has endedThe strike of musicians – in 1942. started the big musicians’ strike that lasted for 2 years. The union of musicians wanted to collect the royalties from the recording houses and refused to make any new music until the matter is settled. As many big band musicians and orchestra belonged to the union, they did not release any new music in these two years. During that time, new, individual artists emerged and got the spotlight. The focus changed from bands to solo artists.Rise of new genres – with the change of generations, came the change of popularity in genres. At the start of the 50s, rock’n’roll emerged as the popular music for the youth, and big bands and swing music were regarded as something that older people would listen to. Teenagers and younger people were more interested in solo artists.