Youth may be king in the digital universe but Boomers rule rock concerts and action movies

Psst. Wanna be famous? It’s never been easier, especially if you’re young. That’s because social media networks dominate the world, which in turn – you guessed it – are dominated by the young. But the big question mark around this 21st-century brand of fast fame is how long it will last. The vast majority of early YouTube stars have faded into obscurity and, thanks to multiple music streaming platforms and the diminishing influence of the album, the number of one-hit wonders and the turnover of stars is on the rise.

Boomers still booming: (from left) Elton John, Jimmy Barnes, Stevie Nicks and Mick Jagger.Credit: Getty Images

But if youth is king in the digital universe, ticket sales from old-fashioned rock concerts and action movies show that Baby Boomers are holding on for dear life.

Suzi Quatro, 69, Stevie Nicks, 71, and Kris Kristofferson, 83, all toured this year. Elton John, 72, has begun his sold-out jaunt around Australia, which runs until next March, and legendary rocker Jimmy Barnes, 63, is playing more than a dozen special outdoor shows across the country with his band Cold Chisel, beginning on New Year’s Eve. Scottish rock band Simple Minds (lead singer Jim Kerr is now 60) is returning late next year. And rumours are swirling that the Rolling Stones will also be hitting our shores some time in 2020 (Mick Jagger is 76 and drummer Charlie Watts, 78).

One of the original YouTube stars Ray William Johnson.Credit: YouTube

Meanwhile, ageing action stars continue to defy gravity. Tom Cruise, 57, will appear in two Mission: Impossible films to be released in 2020 and 2021, following Sylvester Stallone, 73, in Rambo: Last Blood and Keanu Reeves, 55, in John Wick: Chapter 3. Not to forget Arnold Schwarzenegger, 72, who has made a number of comeback action films in recent years, including two more Terminator movies, and has the action-comedy Kung Fury 2 out next year.

It’s hard to believe that fame will be as enduring for today’s social media stars. Creating high-impact short videos on shoestring budgets on a daily basis, shooting for viral hit after viral hit, tends to lead to burnout.

Which may explain why a formerly huge YouTube star such as Ray William Johnson, who only five years ago hosted the biggest channel on the platform (Equals Three, with close to 10 million followers), has moved into mainstream media gigs with less frequent deadlines.

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