History of the TLD

The .rocks top level domain was launched in 2014 as part of the ICANN new gTLD expansion. It was designed as a flexible and expressive extension rather than one tied to a single industry. Since launch it has been adopted for entertainment, music, community projects, branding campaigns, and creative marketing uses.

Main Use and Industry Position

The .rocks TLD is commonly used by music bands, artists, fan communities, event promotions, lifestyle brands, and informal business marketing. Its position is largely brand driven and expressive, appealing to users who want a bold and modern tone rather than strict industry definition.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared to .com, .rocks offers stronger personality but far less neutrality and recognition. When compared to extensions like .music or .band, .rocks is broader and more flexible, allowing use outside entertainment while still maintaining an energetic and informal feel.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Strong branding and expressive appeal

• Broad use across creative and commercial projects

• Short and memorable extension

Cons

• Informal tone may not suit corporate or professional use

• Lower trust perception than legacy TLDs

• Meaning may feel vague for some audiences
  
  

Registration Criteria

The .rocks TLD is open for general registration with no eligibility restrictions. Domains are registered globally on a first come first served basis.

Summary

The .rocks TLD is a flexible and personality driven extension best suited to creative, entertainment, and brand focused projects. It prioritises tone and memorability over traditional authority or industry specificity.