Is Music Actually Getting Worse?
Start writing a post
Entertainment

I Can't Decide If Music Is Getting Worse Or We're Just Getting Old

Music is one of those things that everybody has an opinion on - what's a good genre, a bad one, who's a talented artist or who's not...everyone's got their own different tastes and preferences.

7070
A woman listening to music on her phone with headphones.

Music is one of those things that everybody has an opinion on - what's a good genre, a bad one, who's a talented artist or who's not...everyone's got their own different tastes and preferences. But one opinion that many people share has to do with modern-day music: it sucks.

We've all rolled our eyes when our parents or grandparents listen to a new song and moan, "Music was just soooo much better back in the day," or "I don't know how you listen to that new crap." You might have felt the same notion already, too - I know I have. I'm only 21 years old, but I can't help but cringe whenever I accidentally tune in to one of those "Top 40" radio stations. It's not even mainstream pop music that's entirely stale to me - I'm a big fan of the metal, pop punk and rock genres too, but I'm almost always disappointed when I try to find new tunes, even from bands I used to really like.

So what is this phenomenon? Is it just nostalgia, or is music actually getting worse over time? A researcher in Spain had the same questions in 2012 and ended up designing a study that tracked changes in popular music over the last 55 years. And the results were, well...disappointing, but not unexpected, to say the least.

The study analyzed around half a million songs, measuring characteristics such as timbre (the tone quality of a sound), pitch (the harmonic content of a piece, including chords, melody and tone arrangements) and loudness, which form the "base" or "palette" that an artist uses to compose a song. The amount of information in a song is dependent on how widely these characteristics are used and how they vary within the scope of that song.

The study found that, since 1955, the timbral variety and pitch content of music has decreased. The number of chords and different melodies has gone way down, and songs are becoming more and more homogenized over the years - meaning that modern-day music contains much less musical information and is less distinguishable.

Music has also become much, much louder, which is a problem for not only your hearing but for sound quality as well. Scientific American says that loudness lessens a song's richness and depth - and the study found that loudness of recorded music is increasing by one decibel every eight years. So the general conclusion from the study confirmed that popular music has indeed become more homogenized (i.e., it all sounds the same now).

These results are disappointing, for sure, but not entirely surprising. Some argue that in our modern world of commercialization and mass media, there isn't room for music with so much information in it in the first place. Some people enjoy popular music because it doesn't contain much complexity or variety - it's predictable, easy to listen to and able to be enjoyed on "autopilot."

Ultimately, science has confirmed that popular music all sounds the same nowadays. But does that mean music really is getting worse, and it's not just feeling nostalgic for the "good old days"? Well...the answer is still not a conclusive "yes" or "no," because, in the end, music is all about personal preference. Some people enjoy the simplicity of new music, so they don't interpret the fact that it all sounds the same as a bad thing. Others (myself included) don't exactly appreciate the repetitiveness and prefer more complex arrangements and higher varieties of musical characteristics, like the ones measured in the study.

So, yes, music is getting worse for some. For others, though, it's just getting better. We all like what music we like, and we don't like what we don't like - which we should feel free to do. The one thing we shouldn't do is be a music snob.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55002
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35408
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957538
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

184573
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments