Queen guitarist Brian May recently defended the enduring relevance of guitar music. He dismissed claims that the genre is obsolete in comments shared on Louder Sound.
The legendary musician addressed ongoing debates about the future of guitar-driven music with characteristic passion.
“It’s ridiculous,” May said. “People talk about guitar music being dead, but it’s always going to be with us. It’s deeply embedded in our psyche.”
The Queen guitarist elaborated on why he believes the instrument will remain timeless.
“The guitar is very much parallel to a human voice, and that, that’s what makes it immortal,” he continued. “That’s why people express themselves through guitar as well as through their voice. I don’t think guitars are on the way out just yet!”
May’s passionate defense of guitar music comes at a time when industry data actually supports his optimistic outlook for the instrument’s future.
Breakthrough Guitar reported that the global guitar market is expected to continue growing robustly. Projections estimate an increase from approximately $6 billion in 2025. This growth is driven by renewed interest in music as a leisure activity and the continuing popularity of the instrument across generations.
Market trends reveal that Get My Guitar found electric guitars are outselling acoustic guitars by a 2:1 ratio. This indicates strong demand for the rock and blues genres that May champions. This preference for electric instruments suggests that guitar-driven rock music maintains significant commercial appeal.
The surge in guitar sales accelerated notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Piano Dreamers noted this reflected a growing wave of new players picking up the instrument worldwide. This trend contributed to a vibrant and expanding guitar community that continues to thrive post-pandemic.
These market realities underscore May’s assertion that guitar music remains a vital and evolving force in contemporary culture. The combination of sustained commercial growth, strong electric guitar sales, and an influx of new players suggests that reports of guitar music’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
