Is music getting worse?

Unpacking music’s biggest question

By Nic Longstreet

If someone was to do a deep dive into the music side of Instagram or Twitter, they’ll eventually end up in a discussion about whether or not music is better or worse than it was “back then.” Back then typically being any time before now, whether it’s the 2010s or the early 2000s… However, this is a much more nuanced discussion than a simple “yes” or “no.”

A lot of generations have that moment when they become a victim of what is known as the “old head phenomenon.” This phenomenon occurs when someone hears a new song and realizes they’re too old to understand the new generation’s music. 

This can happen in any genre. I listen to my pop playlist on Spotify and it sounds like slop. 

A specific example of this is Sombr. I think Sombr is an industry plant because where did he come from? Who is he? And how is every song about some girl breaking his heart? Someone could play all of his songs and I wouldn’t be able to differentiate one from another. Shockingly, this isn’t the only artist that has appeared out of nowhere. I’ve seen a slew of artists that are either recycling the same concept in every song, or simply lacking true creativity.

That’s where the problem lies. There’s not as much creativity in mainstream music… None of these artists have unique styles or personalities.

I found my favorite artists through the recommended artists on my Spotify. I despised artists that seemingly only blew up because of TikTok. I like my artists to have an original vibe, a vision that is different and not trying to recreate another artist’s style. I’ve come across three different artists who claim to be the next Frank Ocean. They try this to get views and engagement. The problem nowadays is that social media presence is almost a requirement for any artist to even have a chance.

Back in the day artists gained relevance through co-signs and features… Now, it’s just whoever is paying the most for promotion on social media platforms. There’s also more questions around the legitimacy of these artists’ streams. There’s no way anyone expects me to believe that Ella Langley, an artist who no one had heard of last year, somehow has the longest running number one single on Billboard in history? 

I know that streams aren’t, and shouldn’t be, a main concern for a fan. Streaming numbers should only really matter to music executives, artists and repertoire professionals. On the other hand investigations into botted streams and fake accounts boosting high streams just make every new sensation all the more suspicious.

What’s sad is older artists who have been around for a long time don’t get nearly as much recognition as they deserve. Denzel Curry is a perfect example of this. He’s been around since the mid 2010s and has released well-liked albums that are seen as amazing. But when it comes to chart success or the size of his shows, they stay pretty small because he doesn’t have “TikTok” songs. 

Think of how many artists are being missed out on because they either refuse to bow down to the machine or they just aren’t viral on social media. If Frank Ocean had started his career today, he wouldn’t be able to do the mysterious act that he does now. 

Determining whether or not music has gotten worse is a complicated question. There are a lot more variables in the music industry than ever before with social media demands, and it is important to realize that when forming an answer.