It’s been almost 50 years since the Rolling Stones gathered at Ronnie Wood’s home in Richmond to lay down the first tracks of It’s Only Rock and Roll on July 24, 1973. At the time it was an answer to the critics about the next song not always living up the the last song. But as Mick said, “It’s only Rock and Roll (but I like it)”. Had this come out 20 years earlier, it might have had a different connotation.
For many, Rock and Roll was the music a generation had been waiting for. And for others, it was the music of the devil and responsible for all manner of society’s ills. Today we are seeing a similar reception for remote work. While millions have embraced it as the new way of doing things, others like Nike CEO John Donahoe are blaming it for the problems their company is having.
The Evils of Rock and Roll
Rock and roll burst onto the scene in the 1950s, shaking up the music world and leaving a lasting mark on global culture. This genre, emerging amidst post-war economic boom and cultural shifts, was quickly embraced by the youth. However, it was not without its detractors; rock and roll was often blamed for inciting various societal issues, from moral decay to juvenile delinquency.
As rock and roll’s popularity soared, it increasingly became a scapegoat for various societal problems. Critics argued that it promoted sexual promiscuity, rebellious behavior, and disrespect for authority. The music’s loud, raw sound and the often suggestive performances by its artists added fuel to the fire. The 1950s witnessed a moral panic over rock and roll, with many believing it was corrupting the youth. This panic was partly fueled by sensational media reports and conservative groups who viewed the music as a threat to traditional values and societal stability.
Connections were drawn between rock and roll and an apparent rise in juvenile delinquency. Critics of the genre pointed to the raucous behavior at concerts and the rebellious demeanor of the fans as evidence that rock and roll was having a deleterious effect on young people.
The media played a significant role in shaping public opinion about rock and roll. Newspapers and magazines often portrayed its fans as misguided youths and television coverage could be both sensational and dismissive. This media portrayal helped to cement the view of rock and roll as a dangerous influence.
The New Evil – Remote Work
There’s no denying that remote work has been disruptive. But much like Rock and Roll, it’s part of a cultural shift. It would have happened eventually if it weren’t for Covid 19. But many people see it as something that needs to be fixed, rather than being a new way of doing things. Unlike Rock and Roll, remote work wasn’t just something new that people did, it was something that dramatically impacted established ecosystems such as restaurants, support services, daycare, transportation, and commercial real estate.
Lots of things have been changing since more people started remote in 2020. Between the war in Eastern Europe and multiple supply chains breaking, people are looking for someone/something to blame. Especially if they have lots of money at stake. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink is one of many CEOs who have blamed remote work for falling productivity and rising inflation. It’s probably no coincidence that Blackrock has over 60 billion dollars worth of commercial real estate in its portfolio. Doing away with remote work solves a very large problem for commercial real estate owners.
But much like Rock and Roll before it, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle and make it go away. Some countries have tried to suppress the societal changes that were occurring in the late 50s and early 60s. In August 1961, the Berlin Wall was built to prevent the spread of disruptive ideas. It’s sort of ironic that MTV is partially credited with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Remote work is still getting some bad press. But with over 90% of workers saying it improves job satisfaction, and return to office mandates having less than the desired effect, remote work seems to be part of our future.
Becoming Ubiquitous
By the early 70s Rock and Roll was ubiquitous. There were some different flavors – soft, country, southern, heavy metal, etc. but at its core, it was still Rock and Roll. Remote work is getting there. The concept of sometimes remote, or hybrid, has yet to have a common definition. Unlike Rock and Roll, I think remote work will have a new name within a couple more years – work. No remote, no hybrid, just work. The changes in our overall society will be far beyond what Rock and Roll did decades before. It’s not just about what we listen to and how we dance. Remote work is changing how and where we live our lives. Cities will change how they are organized and central business districts will go the way of the dodo. Smaller communities will leverage the power of high-speed internet and you will see more of a return to gathering spaces within communities (barbers, coffee shops, coworking spaces, maker spaces, pubs, etc.) All because of a little thing currently called remote work. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just creating change. Hey, it’s only remote work but I like it, like it, yes, I do,
