What Are Rock Stars Doing Today is the third studio album by Australian rock band, Magic Dirt. It was their first on East West Records label, released in October 2000, it peaked at number 35 on the ARIA Charts.
In the 1990s, Magic Dirt had a number of loud, alternative rock releases and they had toured endlessly. But, with the decline of grunge and the rise in popularity of hip hop and electronica-based acts by the end of the decade, Magic Dirt had lost their manager and label, and feeling burnt out, the band also found themselves asking each other, should we continue. Lead singer Adalita was sure of one thing, that the previous decade was one in which she dealt with a lot of angst and emotionally raw issues and that she was now in a different headspace. She told Double J "I just wanted to write happy stuff and poppier, upbeat stuff.". The band went into the studio and recorded What Are Rock Stars Doing Today, with an emphasis on the melodic pop side of their songwriting.[2] Adalita reflected saying "It was totally our second phase as a band, our second rising. We were mid career, we still had a lot of steam, a lot of energy, a lot of writing to do."[3]
