According to Baby Boomer Headquarters, more than a third of the population in the United States was under 19 in 1964. As a result, a massive youth market emerged, to which rock and roll belonged and was marketed.
Rock and roll, upbeat blues-based music that emerged during the 1950s, was heavily influenced by British groups in the 1960s. Bands like the Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who emulated early American rock and roll music and in turn sparked a massive interest in British-based rock music.
Drug use had a profound influence on rock and roll music during the 1960s. A rise in the use of illegal drugs like cannabis and LSD affected musicians and listeners alike. Genres like psychedelic and acid rock emerged as a result.
Rock and roll musicians reacted to social events happening around them during the 1960s. The Vietnam War was among the many social issues reflected in songs like "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival and "Revolution" by the Beatles.
The rise of rock and roll music during the 1960s culminated in the Woodstock Festival in 1969. An estimated 400,000 people converged in upstate New York for three days of music from some of rock's biggest acts.