Small radio stations began to play selections from these new albums, which gained popularity with college students who were interested in the alternative culture that was developing throughout the country. 1969 was when the name "progressive rock" was coined. At this time, Yes and King Crimson released their first albums and received the most attention among fans and critics. At its height (1969-73), FM radio stations allowed a freer format that aided in Progressive Rock bands exposure. The movement had arrived at mainstream success.

In 1973 Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon, which stayed on the Billboard Chart through to 1987 but, however, the dynamics of the music industry were changing and by 1974 an anti - progressive movement had begun (Similar to Disco). This was in the form of ‘Pub Rock’ and was a ‘rootsy’ music, which stood in contrast to the ‘Glam Rock’, ‘Hard Rock’, and ‘Progressive Rock’ that had dominated the British charts. The ‘Punks’ also made their displeasure clear with the progressive movement, which they regarded as old and self-indulgent. 

ELP

The Punk movement changed music. It was no longer fashionable to make long, complicated compositions. The younger generation that Progressive Rock held a few years before had now moved to punk. Sales, of Progressive Rock albums dwindled. The era was coming to an end.

Yes, one of the biggest selling acts of the progressive rock era split up in 1980 and Pink Floyd, while never matching the success of Dark Side of the Moon, still remain one of the top concert acts in the music world.

Steve Shorter: June 2007

Sources: Wikipedia, Media KnowAll: Popular Music, Piero Scaruffi: History of rock music, Encyclopedia Britannica 2002, BBC Online – Music.

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