BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Bakersfield-bred band Korn’s “Untitled” album is still hot on Billboard’s top 200 this week, although it slipped from No. 2 to 21 after three weeks on the charts.

Last week Korn was ranked number 10 on Billboard charts.

“Untitled,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in the Aug. 18 issue of Billboard, also entered the Rock Albums chart at No. 1. The album also has the distinction of being the first No. 1 album on a pair of new Billboard charts, Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums, which are both part of Billboard’s online offerings.

The group’s 19 active rock radio hits since 1998 are more than any artist in that time frame.

Each of the group’s last seven studio albums has reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 and nine of their 11 charted albums have reached the top 10.

And that’s a lot of clout for a band from an area that mostly touts the past country heroics of Buck Owens. Korn’s success also shows they’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

In a recent Billboard story written by Todd Martens and Brian Garrity, Korn’s Jonathan Davis said, “We're still here because we do good music, and we basically invented that [explicative] format … Metallica started the trash movement, and they're still here. Nirvana, if Kurt [Cobain] was still here, they'd be huge. Once you're the first band, that fan base survives.”

In Bakersfield, hometown fans are anticipating Korn’s appearance Wednesday night, more than a year after the band had a Rabobank Arena back alley roadway dedicated to them in Feb. 2006 titled, "Korn Row."

And fans aren’t the only locals celebrating Korn’s success. One local media social networking site/magazine is celebrating Korn’s rare hometown appearance.

Matt Munoz, product manager of Bakotopia Magazine, has put together an all-encompassing Korn magazine edition honoring the band’s Bakersfield appearance, complete with fan information, a band interview, interactive map and nostalgic photos.

"A Korn Bakersfield homecoming is always going to be a big deal and for many reasons," said Munoz. "One being their story is one of the biggest and best in the history of rock, especially for this generation. Think about it; a band from Bakersfield changes the face of rock during a very big transitional period after Kurt Cobain from Nirvana dies in '94. Along comes Korn with a new sound and style, and takes over. That's pretty incredible when you think about it."

(Click for ABC23 Youtube interview with Korn fans also interviewed in Bakotopia)

View Slideshow: Pre-Korn concert

ABC23’s Nick Belardes interviewed Anthony Colombo, chart manager for Rock, Ringtones, and Video of Billboard Magazine, to discuss Korn and their ongoing success in rock music.

ABC23: I thought nu-metal was dying; what happened?

Billboard: I’m not sure if it’s accurate to say nu-metal is dying but it’s fair to say the genre has slipped a bit from the peak of its popularity. While bands such as Korn and Linkin Park have survived and thrived, others, such as Limp Bizkit and Rage Against the Machine, have split up, while still others, such as P.O.D. and the Deftones have not sustained the momentum their early success foretold. I think all genres have ups and downs and nu-metal is no exception.

ABC23: Why is Korn so popular with the masses?

Billboard: I think they’re so popular because they make consistently great albums and because they’ve got a very loyal fan base. So they’ve got all the bases covered, the music is solid and that results in radio airplay which ultimately turns into album and ticket sales. Plus they have a good sense of business as well as musicianship. Only once have they gone more than two years between albums so they haven’t disappeared long enough for people to forget about them. At the same time they’ve been able to avoid becoming overexposed.

ABC23: Is Korn's recent chart-topping success just a case of great marketing in the music biz?

Billboard: Certainly the band’s arrangement with EMI Music is innovative but I wouldn’t say the band’s success is just because of great marketing. For starters they’ve been successful for a long time now and I think that success allowed them to cut the kind of deal they did with EMI. The company bought into the band’s track record and wagered that, short-term at least, they would continue to be successful. Marketing is a factor – you wouldn’t be successful without it. But great music and a track record of success is equally important.

ABC23: And what about that Family Values tour? That must be figuring into the equation?

Billboard: Absolutely! Touring always figures into the equation but Korn is so identified with the Family Values tour it has become a key component in the band’s success. And by keeping ticket prices low, it enables their younger fans to afford a ticket that they might not be able to otherwise.

Related Links:

www.radioandrecords.com, www.billboard.biz, www.billboard.com