I should think.

mean anything to the average British teenager these days?

The tastes of American teenagers alway seem far more homogenised and linear than their British equivalents. I have nothing to back this up but it's an impression I've had for many years that if you make it in the States you're far more guaranteed a cross-generational career.

Have been all over US College Radio for 25 years now.

coasts and major markets have they?

Think of the 'average American teenager' as someone in the mid-west - 25 years ago he'd have driven a Camaro and listened to Springsteen. He was the guy that Daltrey was talking about.

I suspect these days he drives a rice rocket and listens to hip-hop.

If you're an American teen and only own 30 records, chances are you're not a massive fan of music and as a result, aren't all those records likely to be popular, recent stuff.

In which case, the British act most likely for an American teen to listen to in 2010 is Jay Sean.

Didn't Brit band Bush mean something to the Yanks but nothing to us? I know they mean nothing to me. Or is it that Vienna?

... all seem to have a thing for The Smiths... I know they weren't big there but still.

But I suspect the point he was trying to make was more about the insularity of the British music "scene" , particularly the old music weeklies, who would go on about groups like The Smiths and The Stone Roses being "massive" when, in the grand scheme of things, i.e. the wider international market, they were minnows.

a lot of British Metal has a following in the States,otherwise why Spinal Tap?

teenagers from Northampton like let alone little rock? As long as teenagers have their heads turned around and filled with unplaceable undescrible joy like music did for me when I was young I don't care what they listen to or hold in great esteem. I imagine they will stumble on british bands but with every tune in the world at their finger tips is any one band going to stand out?

Anything's possible.

Or was it Sunday? Even worse, they had the American *album* charts. Ugh.

Obviously, lots of great music comes out of America and always has, but it never got in their charts when I was growing up. Christ.

the biggest selling UK album in the US last year was from a certain Susan Boye - 3.1 million. The year before it was Leona Lewis.

The next best selling UK artist was Sting at 60 with 521,000 sales. Coldplay's last was at 66 with 495,000. The Beatles' Abbey Road was at 88 with 410,000. Muse were at 107 with 361,000.

Sobering times.

I do know some Americans who love British music. But I also know some who wouldn't know it if it bit them.

My visits to the States have led me to believe that the rest of the world doesn't really exist to the majority of them over there. You don't see things on the news, in the papers. Certain places - like New York it's different, but go into the so-called heartlands and there isn't anywhere else in the world.

I used to hate the American chart show on a Saturday afternoon

despite being a very intelligent, dry and discerning person, thought that Nick Drake was from San Francisco. I don't know how this is possible. I've never heard a more English-sounding singer in my life.

"And by average American teenager I think he means someone who owns 30 CDs and is most influenced by radio when it comes to what they like and buy."

In which case, I think Daltry is probably right. I'm not a teenager (more's the pity!) but I listen to the radio. Every city in the country has at least one rock radio station. These days it seems as though every city in the country has at least one Country music station, too, but outlets for the more indie side of things are getting rarer and rarer. You are almost guaranteed to find a station playing the Stones, Zeppelin, The Who & Pink Floyd long before one that will be playing the Cure, Coldplay or The Smiths.

For example, Indie 103.1 was an LA based station up until a couple of years ago with some of the best stuff on the radio as far as I'm concerned (Jonesy's Jukebox was particularly good) but the station's owners decided changing formats would generate more income. I think they became a Spanish language station. If you're lucky enough to have a good college or university in your town, there may be a radio station that will be more "indie" focused, but most teenagers (ages 12 to 16 or 17) don't listen to those stations. I'm not even sure if teenagers in that age group even listen to the radio that much anyway. Maybe teenagers 18 or 19 do.

If you listen to any "rock" music station in just about any city in America, you will be fed a steady diet of the Stones, Zeppelin, The Who & Pink Floyd. However, what that really means is you're going to hear 'Brown Sugar,' 'Livin' Lovin' Maid,' 'Won't Get Fooled Again' and 'Money.' You may hear other Stones & Zep songs, but not many. It really seems as though these stations only own 14 LPs.

There's a station in LA that's still broadcasting 'Breakfast With The Beatles' every Sunday morning. That show's been going for almost 20 years! And it's not even the only Beatle-centric radio programme on a Sunday!

"They're from that country where everything sucks."

what my "average British teenager" daughter likes. When I were a teenager in the '70's Daltry's comment was largely true. In fact, that's probably when he made that remark. But even it was more recent, Rog's zeitgeist radar may not be what it was. As for the Smiths, sure they got traction in the US but Morrisey lived in LA for so long and had a huge cholo following. (BTW Sting Ono; "Yank" is just that teensy bit racist, feel?) Whilst at Uni I saw the Jam, Clash, Elvis Costello, U2 and countless others. Defining the avarage anything teenager is like grabbing quicksilver. From 6-10,000 miles away, tougher. I wouldn't give it much more thought.

They're 50% British, despite their Oirishness and Dutch Antilles tax status.

Americans like McFly. What's not to like. 25% of the band come from Bolton.

Sting's been mentioned, but The Police reunion was huge in the States, wasn't it?
Not fussed, meself.

overdue a musical "invasion" of America. My favourite was in the eighties Human League, Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls and more all selling millions and filling the top ten. Do you remember Jonathan King doing the US Charts on TOTP? "Our House" being discussed on a beach in Miami (I think) was a highlight! How do "Scouting For Girls" go down stateside?