Is Music Losing Its Value?
Graphic by Emma Novy
My Spotify listening age was 68 (I know, I’m lowkey unc), so maybe I am a bit biased. This might be an unpopular take, but I feel like music nowadays doesn’t really hit the same. When I’m deep in my feelings or need to chill, I immediately turn on older music—I’m talking Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, Piano Man by Billy Joel; even late 90s and 2000s work like OK Computer by Radiohead, Riot! by Paramore and anything by Oasis will do it for me. These artists feel immersive and emotionally intentional, like I am supposed to get something out of them or start feeling a certain way after listening. But over the past ten-ish years, I don’t think that same passion and excitement are as prevalent in the music released today.
Instead, I believe that much of today’s music aims for virality and pays little regard to authenticity. Most artists seem to be trying to get 15-second “soundbites” for their song to go viral on TikTok, or the lyrics consist of a whole lotta nothing. (Like KATSEYE is cool to play in the frats, but what are they even saying?) Obviously, this doesn’t apply to all artists today, as there are some that I love and respect just as much as the oldies. I think artists like Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, SZA and even Taylor Swift, whether you love them or hate them, do a fantastic job at embracing emotional vulnerability and storytelling through their songs. It’s just that overall, the devaluation of music seems to be getting worse, and songs are being produced for attention rather than connection or creative expression. I mean, would you really want to see the love of your life standing outside your window in the rain, holding a boombox above their head, confessing how they feel for you… to a Sombr song?
I am not saying music today is bad—it just isn’t appreciated to the same degree. Because music is almost always free and easily accessible online, people now expect to be given it rather than gifted. Take Frank Ocean, for example; he dropped “Blonde,” one of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching albums of the 2010s, if not of all time, if I do say so myself. Shortly after its release, he disappeared, trying to get off the grid as much as possible, but people demanded more. Begging. Pleading. Following him around and harassing him in public. Acting as if he owed it to them. Please just let my boy live and bike around in peace.
According to a recent Spotify User Statistics study, the 25-34 age group makes up the largest share of Spotify listeners, at 29.2%, while users aged 18-24 account for 26.1%. Despite the app being dominated by younger listeners, “older” artists like The Goo Goo Dolls, The Police and Radiohead still ranked among the top global tracks in 2025. "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac even landed at #25 in the U.S.
So, is this because these songs are timeless and nostalgic, or are they simply higher quality and more enjoyable, even for our generation?