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One of my favorite steady gigs is playing in a local upscale retirement community cocktail lounge. I play the old Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin jazz standards. The residents, mostly in their 80s and 90s love them as much as I love playing them. They grew up with these songs. Unfortunately these fine folk will be gone before too much longer and so will the appreciation of the Great American Songbook.
The next generation want to hear “Classic Rock”, which is OK but a big step down both musically and lyrically in my opinion. Then what?
Modern pop music isn’t composed and then recorded as an ensemble, it’s “produced”. (“Attached is the hook for your new hit, Rihanna. Please send us your recorded vocal by return email.”) As a result, the songs all sound then same. (I don’t include rap in this category as I don’t consider it music at all.)
Classical music is on life support. City orchestras are reduced to trying to attract younger audiences by playing Led Zeppelin. Really?
The same thing is happening in churches. The most popular ones feature a rock band playing “praise” music, which is OK if you like that kind of thing but it ain’t Bach or Handel. (There is some good new spiritual music being composed which I enjoy playing in church, along with gospel, but it’s in the minority.)
All of which brings me to worry about the future of good music. Does it even have one?
Cheers! -Alastair
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They grew up with these songs. You nailed it right there.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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All generational. Both in the content of the music and the way it is made. Those who sneer at computers and Pro Tools because "Why, when I was a kid...." likely still write letters, pay bills with checks and have rotary dial phones.
Times change. People should too.
So, "good" is relative. You can choose to listen or not. I choose not, but not because of any old man "and stay off my lawn" stuff. I have just lost my interest in music. I don't even like going into grocery stores where music is playing in the background. The last time I did I got a case of Taylor Swift poisoning.
Video killed the radio star.
Last edited by eddie1261; 10/14/17 01:16 PM.
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There is a lot of good music being recorded today. The problem is finding it. I listen to a local jazz station that plays old and new jazz and some of these new guys can really play.
If you search the Internet there is great county, Americana, blues, jazz, etc being recorded. The problem is you have to go through a lot of crap prior to finding the good stuff. I like Amazon Prime because it has a lot of good music IF you pick the right genre.
I'm also impressed with some of those young children that are on You Tube. Some of those kids can really play.
I am not worried about music's future.
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
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I cannot listen to the old stuff like Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, etc. I understand they probably played a critical role in getting us where we are but then again so did Beethoven and I don't listen to his stuff either!  Like many people I have a strong preference for what I grew up with so The Beatles and Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd get played a lot as does Bob Dylan, John Prine and Paul Simon. There are lots of others of course. But, I also LOVE a lot of the new music. I really love Sia's Chandelier and Lorde's Royals, both terrific pop songs in my opinion. I enjoyed Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus. And quite a bit of the new music excites me! (I even like a recent Eminem freestyle rap but for different reasons!) I agree with Eddie about music being generational. I like my music better than my dad's music and better than my kids' music. But I understand that doesn't make my music better (or worse) than theirs! Also, unlike some folks, I have absolutely no problem with automation or production improvements or voice effects or guitar pedals or synths (or Band-in-a-Box) being used to produce something new and interesting! It doesn't matter to me whether Rihanna sang in a studio or recorded her vocals and emailed them! All I care about is the final product. At the same time I understand how some people remember fondly the "good old days" when the whole band recorded together in the studio; that certainly required some skills! But just like horse & buggy we have moved on! So, to answer the question "Is Good Music Dying Away?"...Nope!
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I agree with Eddie about music being generational.
Wait... what...? We agree on something??? LOL!! I think the perspective here is in the question more than the answer. Is the good TO YOU music dying away? My tastes were always toward the strong vocal groups and the songwriters. I love The 4 Freshman, The Beach Boys and the 4 Seasons because they were such amazing singing groups. I really dig the older school writers like Cole Porter and George Gershwin, but that was my father's music. My fascination with writing started with The Beatles and the Beach Boys. That led into my fascination with production. When you think about the now somewhat primitive equipment that Rubber Soul, Sgt Pepper and Pet Sounds were made on, it boggles the mind that they pulled it off. Now with unlimited tracks on Pro Tools.... you record one verse, one bridge, one chorus and then copy and paste it together. These days, the production is slick, slicker than ever in fact, but for my taste the substance is not there. When music became more visual with the dawn of MTV, (Video Killed the Radio Star) the focus became more on what people SEE. I doubt we'll see another "God Only Knows" or another "Warmth of the Sun" or "Good Vibrations" or "Fool on the Hill" and so forth. That's not the end game of songwriting anymore. But to someone who liked Black Eyed Peas, "I Got A Feeling" is a classic. So yeah, the good TO ME music is gone. I recently got Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, and to me it is magic. Brian is like 76 now and still has that "arranger ear". He weaved Rhapsody in Blue in and out of those songs like he was creating a musical serape. I like some groups like Imagine Dragons, Bon Iver and a few others, but the mainstream stuff does not thrill or interest me. I take note that festivals like Lollapalooza, all the newer, younger acts play during the day, but at night? Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc....
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I agree with Eddie about music being generational.
Wait... what...? We agree on something??? LOL!! Yep!  But I bet we don't agree on Eminem's latest rap! Damn it, I gotta agree with you again about Brian Wilson, The Beatles and others of that era. What they accomplished with primitive tools has never been exceeded in my opinion. But there are lots of things like that in my life. For example, when I was a kid canned biscuits were truly not as good as what Mom made but nowadays they are easily as good or better! Same thing for guitars...when I was a kid the only thing I could afford was a trash guitar from Sears and nowadays I can get a Chinese instrument that sounds and plays as good as almost anything on the market! Cars are another example...when I was a kid a cheap car was truly a junker with guaranteed problems but nowadays I can buy a cheap car and it runs and lasts better than my dad's old Caddy did! And so it is with music. As new tools come out producers use them as shortcuts but as the tools get better and the users get more experienced I feel the music gets even better. I remain very excited about where music is today and where it is going. Too bad I cannot seem to write anything but 70s rock and country styles!
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This is a very interesting concept. https://www.vox.com/videos/2017/10/13/16469744/repetition-in-musicI think we have to accept the musical world as it is rather than as we wish it would be if we want to stay relevant. What will blockchain do for communal music making on the internet for example? I have no idea, but I reckon it could be very interesting and democratic. 
Last edited by lambada; 10/14/17 04:33 PM.
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I hope we’re not limited in our musical tastes by our own generation. Mozart has lasted over 200 years; Cole Porter for 80. (How long will Rihanna last?)
Sure, I prefer the Beatles and The Beach Boys to Frank Sinatra or Madonna, but I certainly didn’t grow up with The Great American Songbook playing on the Victoria, and I sure love it now. Even allowing for generational bias, I can’t see modern music ending up anywhere but on the waste dump of music history.
Cheers! -Alastair
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............... Even allowing for generational bias, I can’t see modern music ending up anywhere but on the waste dump of music history. I'll bet that is the same thing our parents and grand parents said 
Dad, how will I know when I've become an adult.
When your day is ruined because they rearranged the grocery store.
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I remember when I was young, 9 or 10, and my parents listened to Glenn Miller, both Dorsey Brothers, Benny Goodman..... and being Slovenian, our ethnic variation was polka and waltz. So like a lot of Slovenian kids, my first instrument was accordion. When I turned 11, the long haired guys from England were starting to become the buzz, and I wanted a guitar. Now remember, we are talking parents here, and they though guitar meant Chet Atkins and Les Paul type music. They even went as far as liking The Ventures when they heard my Ventures album had Perfidia on it (note Glenn Miller above). They had no idea my goal was wanting to be The Beatles or The Beach Boys. And like everybody in my generation, I had to hear that "How can you listen to that garbage" stuff.
Just like I say now....
And stay off my lawn.
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............... Even allowing for generational bias, I can’t see modern music ending up anywhere but on the waste dump of music history. I'll bet that is the same thing our parents and grand parents said Yes, and they were right about a lot of it. (“96 Tears” by The Mysterians anybody?).
Last edited by AlastairLC; 10/15/17 04:58 AM.
Cheers! -Alastair
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Alastair, If you want some proof that good music isn't dead, then take some time and check out what is broadly labled as "bluegrass" today and you'll find that good music is alive and well. Not only are there world class musicians of all ages playing new original music, but the songs of the past are treated to new arrangements and include many genre's. A good place to start would be someplace like this: http://www.thebluegrasssituation.com/
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I hope we’re not limited in our musical tastes by our own generation. Mozart has lasted over 200 years; Cole Porter for 80. Very true but when was Mozart last played live in a bawdy house or nightclub? Back in the day he was just another performer looking for a gig. All classic music whether it be modern classics or classiCAL music from 200 years ago eventually stops being performed in common places and is only played on special occasions in concert to a select crowd. Jazz is already heading that way and classic rock from the 60's-70's will soon follow. Eddie nailed and so have I every time this subject comes which is quite often around here. It's purely generational. My favorite example is the Roaring 20's flapper music like stride piano, the Charleston dancing and all that. I'm fairly sure without actually knowing your background that you didn't care for that stuff when you heard your grandmother talking about it or playing it at her house when you visited them. The old folks from that era hated the big bands. It sounds unbelievable now but it's true. I remember my grandfather talking about it. He loved music in his day but he was a WW1 Marine born in 1897. His musical era in Detroit was the 20's and he couldn't stand Glen Miller or Benny Goodman much less Ellington and my grandmother was an original Flapper. She had a dance studio and taught the Charleston. Everybody thinks their tastes don't stink while everybody else's does. You know how all of us can go into great detail about this band or that band from 40 years ago? How they changed when so and so left or died? This album had that drummer and that one a different drummer and what a difference it made? I could go on and on with examples of that. Well, I'm a big Lakers fan and I listen to sports talk radio a lot here in LA. The jocks are all younger guys in their mid 30's. They make musical references all the time because part of their talk includes all the stars who showed up at the games last night. They're all artists you, I and about 90% of this forum have never heard of yet it's obvious they're huge in the industry. The sports jocks will talk about their latest records in exactly the same way we used to. They talk about how he or she changed their rap style from what they did 5 years ago and what a huge difference the new producer made, they know all about it, all the littlest details just like we did with "our" artists. You really want to feel old? Listen to young people talk about their music and all the artists. I don't mean simply tuning them out, I mean really listen. Talk about feeling like the proverbial fifth wheel. All I can do is wait for that to finish and get back to talking about one of the Lakers players or the next game or whatever. Which part of modern music is going to last, what will be played in special concerts 50 years from now? I don't have a clue, none of us will be around to see it anyway so who cares? I know one thing, I have faith in Western civilization and all of us in general. They'll figure it out and be happy about it. Bob
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This is why I have XM radio because I find new stuff that the traditional FM stations won't play (I also love the comedies stations). Yes there will always be great music but the music industry won't help you find it, you will need to find it yourself. If you like jazz look into this.
Last edited by Islansoul; 10/15/17 11:37 AM.
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what is broadly labeled as "bluegrass" today I am quite curious if you listen to ANYTHING else, Bob. Every thread, every post, you bring up bluegrass. And with you being from West Virginia, I understand that you probably had exposure to bluegrass more than any genre in your life. But does that translate to Mexico, where they grow up on Mariachi and Tejano, or Cuba where they grow up on Mambo and Rumba, or the Dominican where they revere Bachata, or the Caribbean in general where they grow up on Bolero and Merengue? This is kind of exactly what this thread is addressing. What is good TO YOU music. I appreciate the talent of bluegrass players (Andy Leftwich is off the chain!) but I am not huge on the genre as a whole. Why? In Cleveland where I grew up, we had no place to hear "hillbilly music". Cleveland was largely rock and soul in my formative years, and big band before that. There was a time that you couldn't have dragged me to a country music concert with handcuffs and a blindfold. Now I love country. I grew. I changed. Now I should qualify that to add that I still don't like that old cryin' in your beer country, but modern country, "pop" country, is a bunch of well crafted songs played by top caliber musicians. So, as has been the primary takeaway from most people here, your "good" is not the same as everybody's "good", so to many, yes, it is dying away. I mean, there's not a lot of Latvian folk music coming out these days, and to a huge Latvian folk music fan, they would say yes, good music is dying away. The 20 somethings who like rap, and all those artists with some reference to cool or ice in their name, will eventually die and their genre will peter out when they do. Not a whole lot of surf music produced anymore, is there? I am sure Dick Dale fans are whining about that. All relative.
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In the Eighties I remember one of my first records was Queen's
" A night at the opera" and I was listening to it , my Dad came in and told me I shouldn't be listening to this crap and it would be forgotten , why not listen to the Beatles because lots of people like them so they where better.
I think its impossible to get rid of talent, and there will always be those with it. They might not play what we like but music gods will always be around and follow their path.
As for Rihanna she might be great, or not, time will tell, as far as I know Tom Jones never wrote a song but 40 years later we all know him.
I suppose u can put Heavy Metal with Rap and most of the Electro music, its fiercely followed and loved by a few,dismissed by the majority. But to say musically there is nothing there, to me is putting your head in the sand.
Money and Greed will always be the motivator for the music business so a lot of stuff sold will be copies of what makes it, and even worse replays of bands 20-30 years old because the 40-50 have all the money. We all want to relive our childhood.
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The debate over what makes art (be it music, painting, literature,...) great has been going on for a long time. In recent decades, those who argue that it's relative have been winning the debate.
I don’t tend to agree. I side with those who posit that the ultimate test of greatness is whether it lasts. That is, does it speak to more than one generation, in fact many generations.
On that basis, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and Shakespeare’s Hamlet pass the test.
So far the Great American Songbook is holding its own. Will the Beatles do as well? Only time will tell.
My concern here is that good music may not get the chance. As long as there are museums and libraries (real or digital), visual and literary art will be viewed and read. I’m just not sure that music will continue to be evaluated on the same basis. I fear that future generations will never have heard of the Beatles, let alone Gershwin or Bach.
Cheers! -Alastair
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Alastair
Been reading this and I mostly and very honestly agree with you. Yes, there are some (very little) good "modern" songs & artists but, on the whole I concur that the last handful of decades of music, is simply crap.
This goes well beyond the expected, then dismissed as, "generational difference of opinion."
Now I to go really dark:
There is, and has been since the ~20's, a non-linear corrosive and erosive growth in "relativism" across all Western thought, discourse, and "self actualization" areas. Including areas that one would think should always be immune to relativism such as: objective truth and objective science.
While the match touched the kindling in the 20's, it is WE Western "baby boomers" that have been the main source of fuel for this destructive fire - and we handed more fuel and matches to our children and their children and told them all fire is good! The Phoenix that finally arises from the ashes of a destroyed Western Civilization will not be good for human kind, at least on this planet. And I'm being UP BEAT!
Larry
Last edited by Larry Kehl; 10/15/17 05:26 PM.
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You know, until that post I had no idea what The Great American Songbook was. Honestly. I have never been in any kind of band or done a solo act that required those songs. I looked it up and saw the contents, and just from a quick scan I have had to learn probably a dozen of those songs to play at weddings and such, and have learned a dozen more just because they are some of my favorite standards(Embraceable You, I Got You Under My Skin....). And now I have ordered a copy. I do buy music from time to time when I don't feel like I want to invest time in listening back and forth to figure out complex chords or write out a chart. (Like God Only Knows level complex. Incredible piece of writing. MacArther Park as well. Bought those.)
Unfortunately none of us will be around to know if these songs fade in another 50 or 100 years. I wonder if future generations will append it to add new songs to those.
I remember playing some show for high school aged kids (I was only 35-ish myself then) and they had their table decorations with the quote "Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you." And the quote was attributed to Corey Hart!!! THAT was the version they knew, so that's who they thought wrote it. Similar circumstances once playing in the Motown band. 5 of us, and we all sang. We were in the dressing room warming up doing the 4 Seasons cover of I Got You Under My skin. There was some 22-ish kind of kid in there and he made the comment about how great the writing was in the 4 Seasons. All the band guys, who knew better, just kind of looked at each other. I looked at the kid, and in my perfect fake angry face and voice I asked "Have you ever heard of Cole Porter?" The kid said "No. Who does he play with?" And I did an exaggerated "Heh heh heh. Get out of my dressing room!" And he left as everybody laughed about it. Good times!
Point of those stories is that everybody knows what they know how they know it and don't bother to research it, and why would they of they aren't a music student? I knew somebody who went round and round with me saying that Cole Porter wrote My Funny Valentine. There comes a point where you just say "Okay. You want to be right? Then Porter wrote it."
My opinion is that I don't think the old masters like Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Mozart, etc.... belong in that conversation. They are in their own elite group. They were to music what Henry Ford was to cars, where they did the heavy lifting and set the foundations and standards that we have all built upon since. The people who wrote the show music like what is in that book belong there. Porter, Arlen, Berlin, the Gershwins, Glenn Miller, Goodman etc... And this generation's book would include Lennon and McCartney, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Diane Warren, Brian Wilson also belongs in that group... the hitmakers since 1950-ish. Funny thing about Brian Wilson is that his best work was NOT what people know when you say The Beach Boys.
Off to buy my book.
Edit: I now see that there are like 5 Great American Songbooks. So, one at a time, I will end up with all of them.
Last edited by eddie1261; 10/16/17 04:16 AM.
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Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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