When Hanson hit it big with “MMMbop” in 1997, drummer Zac Hanson was only 12-years-old. He and his brothers Taylor and Isaac’s quick success forced them to grow up fast, as they toured the world in support of their quadruple-platinum album Middle of Nowhere. Zac is 20 now, but he still seems beyond his years as he complained about the current state of the music industry and discusses the band’s new documentary, Strong Enough to Break.
In an interview with The Muse, the drummer explained that Strong Enough to Break was originally supposed to be about the process of recording an album, but it wound up with entirely different message altogether.
“What the film really became was less about making music and more about getting the music out and the process of being able to release an album,” he said.
Hanson is currently two weeks into its 24-city college tour, which stops at BU Central on Nov. 4.
“We’re talking to students about the importance of them being involved and having knowledge about everything that’s going on in music right now,” he said. “We’re not really at colleges talking about Hanson. We’re talking about music. We’re using ourselves as an example but we’re not here to talk about what we’re doing. It’s to talk about what students can do.”
One of Zac’s biggest gripes with the industry is the limited number of songs radio stations play each day. Upon its release, radio stations played “MMMbop” 6,000 times a week, which made him sick. Hanson said most listeners, after hearing an overplayed song, would grow to hate that band, and then not buy their album.
In order to combat the lack of outlets for independent bands to gain exposure, Hanson started a campaign called “Are You Listening?” In addition to a website and a CD sampler distributed at each show on the current tour, the band is holding a contest for different local bands to open each show.
“It’s one thing we’re doing to help local bands get a foot up,” Hanson said. “There are all these stepping stones that need to be there for bands to develop and build their fan bases, and I think some of them are disappearing. We need to be involved in making sure that there are ways for local bands to get their music out.”
The college tour and the “Are You Listening?” campaign have poised Hanson to become one of independent music’s most high profile advocates. But Hanson said he only wants to provide young people with a forum to discuss music.
“We don’t think we know everything,” Hanson said. “I’m 20, Taylor’s 22 and Isaac is almost 25. We’re not just some random guys. We’re your peers. We’re young guys who make music and are lucky enough to have done it for a long time. We want to come and tell you the little bit that we know and get you to start learning more about what you can do.”
Hanson emphasized the need for college students to realize the power they have in the world, whether it is choosing the music they listen to on the radio, voting for president or steering the marketing world toward the latest trends.
“This is a time unlike any other,” he said. “College students always lead the way, they always have. This age group is going to take over every company in the world in the next 10-15 years. We want you to be engaged in what’s going on and not be passive. Don’t let your parents decide what you’re going to hear. Be active.”
Doors open for the Hanson show at 12 p.m., and the documentary screening and question and answer session with the band will take place from 1-3 p.m. m
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