How 'Rock Star' Became a Business Buzzword

HughPickens.com writes: Carina Chocano writes in the NYT that once, a long time ago, a rock star was a free-spirited, convention-flouting artist/rebel/hero/Dionysian fertility god who fronted a world-famous band, sold millions of records and headlined stadium concerts where people were trampled in frenzies of cultlike fervor. Now 'rock star'' has made a complete about-face and in its new incarnation, it is more likely to refer to a programmer, salesperson, social-media strategist, business-to-business telemarketer, recruiter, management consultant or celebrity pastry chef than to a person in a band. The term has become shorthand for a virtuosity so exalted it borders on genius — only for some repetitive, detail-oriented task. According to Chocano, posting a listing for a job for which only ''rock stars'' need apply casts an H.R. manager as a kind of corporate Svengali; "That nobody is looking for a front-end developer who is addicted to heroin or who bites the heads off doves in conference rooms goes without saying. Pretty much anyone can be a ''rock star'' these days — except actual rock stars, who are encouraged to think of themselves as brands."

Comments

The worst part isn't the rebranding

[AchilleTalon]

The worst part isn't the rebranding. It is none of these f... businesses seeking for rock stars will ever pay the money a rock star deserves. That's just hilarious to read a position description asking for a rock star programmer or whatever, it usually means you will be paid peanuts and you are expected to do miracles in exchange. The HR people are the worst dumbasses on this planet. Never apply for such a position.

HR? Fuck Those Guys.

[Greyfox]

HR can't even tell a good programmer from a bad one, much less a rock star. And pretty much every ad asking for one is not offering a rock star's salary. I've never met a rock star programmer personally, though a couple guys who used to hang out on undernet IRC's #linux channel were probably close. I've met a lot of people who thought they were rock stars, but they weren't. I've also worked at only one employer who needed programmers that talented. Sadly, they didn't have any, and weren't offering particularly attractive salaries.

“rock star"

[LMariachi]

When someone uses the phrase “rock star” in a context other than music or energy drinks, it translates to me as “insufferable prima donna.” I don’t want rock stars, I want solid session musicians.