Is Old Music Killing New Music?

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Wrong headline. If anything, the suits are killing it, not the old music, though possibly modern music is just not as good.
Not having tv shows like Countdown and the various 80s shows doesn't help. I guess there is Rage for the night owls.

Foss you should spend some time and listen to the whole thing, Gioia is right on the money.

 

[giggler99]

I'm not sure if Nicky Minaj is still a somebody or not, apparently she's sold 100 million with memorable lyrics like.........
You a stupid hoe, you a, you a stupid hoe
You a stupid hoe, you a, you a stupid hoe
You a stupid hoe, you a, you a stupid hoe
You a stupid hoe, yeah, you a, you a stupid hoe

I think i'll stick to something like "You've got a hubcap diamond star halo"

Its all just junk but unfortunately that's whats classified as 'art' these days.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

I've been listening to an audio book, that I downloaded from the local library, called "Icons of Rock" by Jenny Boyd, the little sister of Patty Boyd of George Harrison and Eric Clapton fame.
Her book is a fascinating investigation of the creative process of writing songs. She interviews 75 musicians and songwriters. The one that really got my attention was her interview with "Eg" White a musician, songwriter and producer. She asked him about the difference between music today and the music of the 1980's. He spoke about what he thought was biggest thing to happen today, Spotify. Spotify enormously rewards songs that sound good in the first 20 seconds, because the artist gets paid by Spotify if you listen to 31 seconds of music, they don't get paid if you only listen for 29 seconds. This has bought about a change in the way songs are written and made. In the past they were written by a couple of people who put the words and instruments together (think Lennon and McCartney). Nowadays, it may be made up by around a dozen people. The original writer will put together something, usually on a synth, then it will be sent off to the drum guy who adds the drum track. Then the "top liners" come in, they add the words and chorus. There is then discussion on who to send the song to and ask, do you want this? If they do, the singer will add their part. Then the question is: is this music enough to get people interested in the first 10 seconds. If it gets the OK the singer will add what they want, musicians are engaged and their music is added. This means there are 12-15 writers involved and they all get a cut, which is a lot less than what you got in the past. The writers and performers are no longer in control. But then came along Tik Tok (Ted Gioia covers this quite well in his Rick Beato discussion). White describes Tik Tok as bonkers. Songs typically have clever or funny lyrics to grab your attention in the first 8-11 seconds. Long songs on Spotify and Tik Tok are a thing of the past, a middle-8 or a bridge are not needed. It's more important to keep the song under 2.20 min. Keep it short and if they like it they'll play it again and we'll get paid twice.
His comment that his kids, their friends and the children of his friends are all listening to Queen, The Stones, Bob Dylan and they were listening to Joni Mitchell before she ripped her stuff off line. Spotify and Tik Tok are the way thing are done but by the time kids reach around 17 or so they are done with it and they start to discover other styles of music.

Eg White was probably the most interesting of all the artists.

Jenny Boyd was married to Mick Fleetwood before Chrissy McVie and Lindsay Buckingham joined. Her sister Patty famously had quite a few songs written about her like, Something and Layla, along with a heap of other songs.
Jenny has only one. Written and performed by Donovan, Jennifer Juniper.

I can recommend the book as one thoroughly worth reading or listening to.
https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/jenny-boyd/

 

[giggler99]

I've been listening to an audio book, that I downloaded from the local library, called "Icons of Rock" by Jenny Boyd, the little sister of Patty Boyd of George Harrison and Eric Clapton fame.
Her book is a fascinating investigation of the creative process of writing songs. She interviews 75 musicians and songwriters. The one that really got my attention was her interview with "Eg" White a musician, songwriter and producer. She asked him about the difference between music today and the music of the 1980's. He spoke about what he thought was biggest thing to happen today, Spotify. Spotify enormously rewards songs that sound good in the first 20 seconds, because the artist gets paid by Spotify if you listen to 31 seconds of music, they don't get paid if you only listen for 29 seconds. This has bought about a change in the way songs are written and made. In the past they were written by a couple of people who put the words and instruments together (think Lennon and McCartney). Nowadays, it may be made up by around a dozen people. The original writer will put together something, usually on a synth, then it will be sent off to the drum guy who adds the drum track. Then the "top liners" come in, they add the words and chorus. There is then discussion on who to send the song to and ask, do you want this? If they do, the singer will add their part. Then the question is: is this music enough to get people interested in the first 10 seconds. If it gets the OK the singer will add what they want, musicians are engaged and their music is added. This means there are 12-15 writers involved and they all get a cut, which is a lot less than what you got in the past. The writers and performers are no longer in control. But then came along Tik Tok (Ted Gioia covers this quite well in his Rick Beato discussion). White describes Tik Tok as bonkers. Songs typically have clever or funny lyrics to grab your attention in the first 8-11 seconds. Long songs on Spotify and Tik Tok are a thing of the past, a middle-8 or a bridge are not needed. It's more important to keep the song under 2.20 min. Keep it short and if they like it they'll play it again and we'll get paid twice.
His comment that his kids, their friends and the children of his friends are all listening to Queen, The Stones, Bob Dylan and they were listening to Joni Mitchell before she ripped her stuff off line. Spotify and Tik Tok are the way thing are done but by the time kids reach around 17 or so they are done with it and they start to discover other styles of music.

Eg White was probably the most interesting of all the artists.

Jenny Boyd was married to Mick Fleetwood before Chrissy McVie and Lindsay Buckingham joined. Her sister Patty famously had quite a few songs written about her like, Something and Layla, along with a heap of other songs.
Jenny has only one. Written and performed by Donovan, Jennifer Juniper.

I can recommend the book as one thoroughly worth reading or listening to.
https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/jenny-boyd/

Great thanks for that summary I might check this book out. wow 31 secs! no wander none of these songs have lead ins. I always had a feeling that streaming music was going to change the landscape but to the extend that some greedy suites just tune up junk in a committee room to satisfy there means and exploit the industry well... I'm not surprised really. But to sacrifice the music for a few measly dollars in their pockets just grins my gears. It's not just the music industry this is happening too streaming is also destroying the TV industry and gaming industry is also heading in that direction but that discussion is for a different thread.

I don't know how the industry gets out of this or if it even wants too. Someone will have to come up with a different means to share and create music in future to change the game again what that will be or looks like I have no idea.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Great thanks for that summary I might check this book out. wow 31 secs! no wander none of these songs have lead ins. I always had a feeling that streaming music was going to change the landscape but to the extend that some greedy suites just tune up junk in a committee room to satisfy there means and exploit the industry well... I'm not surprised really. But to sacrifice the music for a few measly dollars in their pockets just grins my gears. It's not just the music industry this is happening too streaming is also destroying the TV industry and gaming industry is also heading in that direction but that discussion is for a different thread.

I don't know how the industry gets out of this or if it even wants too. Someone will have to come up with a different means to share and create music in future to change the game again what that will be or looks like I have no idea.

Eg White mentioned that he thought that music delivery in the 50's and early 60's was in many ways like Spotify. Most music was delivered over the radio and whether the song continued on the playlist depended on sales (which led to the top 40). Songs were short and musicians didn't make a lot of money, but record companies did. It was when performers were able to exert control to make music that they wanted. People developed a loyalty to a band, singer or musician and could now easily purchase their records and play them over and over. Bands had the confidence to pursue their own self expression and creative ideas. Fans spent their own money and had a feeling of ownership of the music they listened to.
Like you I have no idea what direction the music industry is heading.
I can only hope that it gets a lot better.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

I've been listening to an audio book, that I downloaded from the local library, called "Icons of Rock" by Jenny Boyd, the little sister of Patty Boyd of George Harrison and Eric Clapton fame.
Her book is a fascinating investigation of the creative process of writing songs. She interviews 75 musicians and songwriters. The one that really got my attention was her interview with "Eg" White a musician, songwriter and producer. She asked him about the difference between music today and the music of the 1980's. He spoke about what he thought was biggest thing to happen today, Spotify. Spotify enormously rewards songs that sound good in the first 20 seconds, because the artist gets paid by Spotify if you listen to 31 seconds of music, they don't get paid if you only listen for 29 seconds. This has bought about a change in the way songs are written and made. In the past they were written by a couple of people who put the words and instruments together (think Lennon and McCartney). Nowadays, it may be made up by around a dozen people. The original writer will put together something, usually on a synth, then it will be sent off to the drum guy who adds the drum track. Then the "top liners" come in, they add the words and chorus. There is then discussion on who to send the song to and ask, do you want this? If they do, the singer will add their part. Then the question is: is this music enough to get people interested in the first 10 seconds. If it gets the OK the singer will add what they want, musicians are engaged and their music is added. This means there are 12-15 writers involved and they all get a cut, which is a lot less than what you got in the past. The writers and performers are no longer in control. But then came along Tik Tok (Ted Gioia covers this quite well in his Rick Beato discussion). White describes Tik Tok as bonkers. Songs typically have clever or funny lyrics to grab your attention in the first 8-11 seconds. Long songs on Spotify and Tik Tok are a thing of the past, a middle-8 or a bridge are not needed. It's more important to keep the song under 2.20 min. Keep it short and if they like it they'll play it again and we'll get paid twice.
His comment that his kids, their friends and the children of his friends are all listening to Queen, The Stones, Bob Dylan and they were listening to Joni Mitchell before she ripped her stuff off line. Spotify and Tik Tok are the way thing are done but by the time kids reach around 17 or so they are done with it and they start to discover other styles of music.

Eg White was probably the most interesting of all the artists.

Jenny Boyd was married to Mick Fleetwood before Chrissy McVie and Lindsay Buckingham joined. Her sister Patty famously had quite a few songs written about her like, Something and Layla, along with a heap of other songs.
Jenny has only one. Written and performed by Donovan, Jennifer Juniper.

I can recommend the book as one thoroughly worth reading or listening to.
https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/jenny-boyd/

Really interesting, thanks for the summary Cliff.

However, due to the vast quantity of music available nowadays - Spotify or elsewhere - there is still as much brilliant stuff being recorded and released as there ever was. It just takes a quite a bit more filtering of the rubbish to find it than it ever has.

Those who seek superficial, disposable music will still get what they want and deserve too.

 

[Fossie 32]

Really interesting, thanks for the summary Cliff.

However, due to the vast quantity of music available nowadays - Spotify or elsewhere - there is still as much brilliant stuff being recorded and released as there ever was. It just takes a quite a bit more filtering of the rubbish to find it than it ever has.

Those who seek superficial, disposable music will still get what they want and deserve too.

What is brilliant is subjective but it doesn't seem like that to me. Maybe I haven't been looking too hard but have only come across three new artists that I recall in the last 10 years or so that inspired me to buy their stuff - Samantha Fish, Tal Wilkenfeld and Caroline Rose. Do you have examples of the stuff you refer to and where you find it?

 

[GhostofJimJess]

What is brilliant is subjective but it doesn't seem like that to me. Maybe I haven't been looking too hard but have only come across three new artists that I recall in the last 10 years or so that inspired me to buy their stuff - Samantha Fish, Tal Wilkenfeld and Caroline Rose. Do you have examples of the stuff you refer to and where you find it?

We probably have very different tastes and genres Foss, but as a devotee of psychedelic rock, stoner, prog, punk etc there's a wealth of stuff from the last decade I would happily place in my top 100 records of all time.

King Buffalo and Elder would be at the top of my "recent list" FWIW. The stuff coming out of Europe is astonishing - Germany, Sweden, Greece, France and even Poland have a host of artists whose records I would buy and would travel miles to see live (if they ever toured Oz!)

It's all out there my friend. Perhaps a little harder to isolate from the pack than it was in my Gen X youth, but just as rewarding when you do. Maybe I'm wrong in assuming that other musical tastes would be equally represented?

 

[the_interloper]

I listen to more old music than new music I reckon, because I have access to music that I wouldn't buy back in the day I've still got stuff to discover.

That said I try to listen to a new album a week, on average I reckon I do. Must be tough to invest that amount of time in recording an album when you're going to get **** all return on it.

 

[dumb]

i posted a bunch of stuff in the other similar thread, but might be able to dream up some other ideas

'killing' is subjective. old music has become filtered through streaming platforms, the turkeys have been lost to time and what we're hearing is a distilled version of the past. streaming has blown the market open and older people now have access to older music, but i'd be surprised if much of what older people listen to are albums, as such. the older people genuinely interested in music will already have the hard copies of the albums. i imagine that old people entering the music streaming market now, like that one song from that person they heard on the radio one time. streaming has killed old music as much as it has given people access to it. the market has become flush with technologically capable people who are interested in older music. but no interest albums, only popular tracks.

 

[giggler99]

I've been listening to an audio book, that I downloaded from the local library, called "Icons of Rock" by Jenny Boyd, the little sister of Patty Boyd of George Harrison and Eric Clapton fame.
Her book is a fascinating investigation of the creative process of writing songs. She interviews 75 musicians and songwriters. The one that really got my attention was her interview with "Eg" White a musician, songwriter and producer. She asked him about the difference between music today and the music of the 1980's. He spoke about what he thought was biggest thing to happen today, Spotify. Spotify enormously rewards songs that sound good in the first 20 seconds, because the artist gets paid by Spotify if you listen to 31 seconds of music, they don't get paid if you only listen for 29 seconds. This has bought about a change in the way songs are written and made. In the past they were written by a couple of people who put the words and instruments together (think Lennon and McCartney). Nowadays, it may be made up by around a dozen people. The original writer will put together something, usually on a synth, then it will be sent off to the drum guy who adds the drum track. Then the "top liners" come in, they add the words and chorus. There is then discussion on who to send the song to and ask, do you want this? If they do, the singer will add their part. Then the question is: is this music enough to get people interested in the first 10 seconds. If it gets the OK the singer will add what they want, musicians are engaged and their music is added. This means there are 12-15 writers involved and they all get a cut, which is a lot less than what you got in the past. The writers and performers are no longer in control. But then came along Tik Tok (Ted Gioia covers this quite well in his Rick Beato discussion). White describes Tik Tok as bonkers. Songs typically have clever or funny lyrics to grab your attention in the first 8-11 seconds. Long songs on Spotify and Tik Tok are a thing of the past, a middle-8 or a bridge are not needed. It's more important to keep the song under 2.20 min. Keep it short and if they like it they'll play it again and we'll get paid twice.
His comment that his kids, their friends and the children of his friends are all listening to Queen, The Stones, Bob Dylan and they were listening to Joni Mitchell before she ripped her stuff off line. Spotify and Tik Tok are the way thing are done but by the time kids reach around 17 or so they are done with it and they start to discover other styles of music.

Eg White was probably the most interesting of all the artists.

Jenny Boyd was married to Mick Fleetwood before Chrissy McVie and Lindsay Buckingham joined. Her sister Patty famously had quite a few songs written about her like, Something and Layla, along with a heap of other songs.
Jenny has only one. Written and performed by Donovan, Jennifer Juniper.

I can recommend the book as one thoroughly worth reading or listening to.
https://thestrangebrew.co.uk/interviews/jenny-boyd/

CliffMcTainshaw I decided to check out the podcast from that website ‘the strange brew’, boy do I feel stupid not knowing about it. Some great stuff with some awesome interviews and guests. Going through the backlog of episodes now

 

[giggler99]

Music by committee, 15 songwriters No wander old music is killing new music.

 

[giggler99]

CliffMcTainshaw in relation to my post above #54 Samuraiguitarist on YouTube shared a video where he interviews Tim Pierce who explains a program or a system called 'One Thousand Fans' a way on how musicians can survive and thrive in making music without the burden of the industry itself. Through it can also apply with other forms of streaming media. Check it out you might find it interesting.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Not strictly music but most interesting if you use Spotify to sell your music. If you use Spotify and believe you are helping the development of new artists, you should watch this.

View attachment 2136223

I posted this in "What are you listening to now", just in case you missed it.

 

[JackFlash]

First of all the Music Industry was dead and buried by the end of the naughties, it's just taken a few artists a little time to decide if they will have their ashes scattered or not. The past 15 years has been abysmal. I've seen all the mega bands and i've been to every pub and club in Melbourne to see anyone from INXS to People with Chairs Up Their Noses on a Monday night for $2! I go and see a trickle of bands who come and play the Forum or Croxton band room, but I guess i only have old music now and loving it!

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

First of all the Music Industry was dead and buried by the end of the naughties, it's just taken a few artists a little time to decide if they will have their ashes scattered or not. The past 15 years has been abysmal. I've seen all the mega bands and i've been to every pub and club in Melbourne to see anyone from INXS to People with Chairs Up Their Noses on a Monday night for $2! I go and see a trickle of bands who come and play the Forum or Croxton band room, but I guess i only have old music now and loving it!

It sure is dead. Most of the kids I have met over the last 20 years have never seen a live band, apart from other kids at school playing during lunchtime or at assemblies.

 

[SSwans2011]

People that push the argument that old music is inherently better than new music are insufferable.

There's more music being released than ever so it stands to reason that there's more good music being released than ever. Sure you might have to go looking for it, but that's also more convenient than ever, so you're being disingenuous if you whinge about new music without actually making that effort.

I used to fall into that camp of glorifying old music and neglecting new music, but I started to change that around a decade ago, and now all 5 of the last 5 years I've felt it's been the best year I can recall for music because I keep finding new artists and have access to their discographies and new releases.

I like how people are happy to recall visiting friends houses to listen to new records back in the day, but aren't willing to hop on Bandcamp, or any of the various review sites, to find something new that's suited to their tastes. It's really not hard.

I don't care if people want to live in a nostalgia bubble, but the argument that music used to be better is just plain wrong.

 

[giggler99]

People that push the argument that old music is inherently better than new music are insufferable.

There's more music being released than ever so it stands to reason that there's more good music being released than ever. Sure you might have to go looking for it, but that's also more convenient than ever, so you're being disingenuous if you whinge about new music without actually making that effort.

I used to fall into that camp of glorifying old music and neglecting new music, but I started to change that around a decade ago, and now all 5 of the last 5 years I've felt it's been the best year I can recall for music because I keep finding new artists and have access to their discographies and new releases.

I like how people are happy to recall visiting friends houses to listen to new records back in the day, but aren't willing to hop on Bandcamp, or any of the various review sites, to find something new that's suited to their tastes. It's really not hard.

I don't care if people want to live in a nostalgia bubble, but the argument that music used to be better is just plain wrong.

I think it’s more the fact that culturally music and the variety of genres is non existent in the mainstream anymore. You are right there is good music out there if people are willing to find it but that’s also the problem, we have to go out and find it when in the past it was all there on MTV, dedicated radio stations, music labels promoting the crap out of their music etc.. Probably there is to much out there these days to do all that. People are also to comfortable on YouTube and TikTok to seek anything else.

 

[SSwans2011]

It sure is dead. Most of the kids I have met over the last 20 years have never seen a live band, apart from other kids at school playing during lunchtime or at assemblies.

Not so much this year as I've been busy with work or travelling, but there's been times in the last few years when I've been going to 2-3 gigs a week (mainly local and Australian acts). Plenty of, in fact it's comfortably predominantly, younger people at those shows.

I think it’s more the fact that culturally music and the variety of genres is non existent in the mainstream anymore. You are right there is good music out there if people are willing to find it but that’s also the problem, we have to go out and find it when in the past it was all there on MTV, dedicated radio stations, music labels promoting the crap out of their music etc.. I guess there is also to much out there these days to do all that, people are also to comfortable on YouTube and TikTok.

I don't think that's necessarily true. There's plenty of variety, even in the mainstream, heck, even specifically in mainstream rap there's been countless new trends over the past 2 decades, people just don't like them.

People have also always pushed this narrative that mainstream radio plays trash. In Australia, at the very least, you can date that back to the creation of the country's first community radio station (4ZZZ in QLD) in 1975 which was mainly created by students because they felt radio (and its coverage of current affairs) at the time was crap. Community radio stations in other states were formed shortly thereafter.

The genre argument also misses the fact that most genres weren't forged in the mainstream. Generally, they start in the underground or in localised scenes. If people are neglecting to get around it, the mainstream won't catch on. There's new electronic genres being formed up the wazoo in South America (and Brazil in particular) at the moment, plenty of new forms of music emerging or becoming popularised in Africa (such as Singeli), genres like noise rock are continuing to advance and become more prolific than ever. Those styles and styles that have gained traction in the mainstream (trap in hip-hop and then filtering into pop being the obvious one in recent times with respect to commercial music) filter through to other styles, much like Indian classical music was central to the creation of psychedelic rock. Maybe this happened with greater intensity 50 years ago due to the novelty of globalisation, but it's still happening today, and musicians are still advancing those ideas from half a century ago.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

Not so much this year as I've been busy with work or travelling, but there's been times in the last few years when I've been going to 2-3 gigs a week (mainly local and Australian acts). Plenty of, in fact it's comfortably predominantly, younger people at those shows.

I'd guess you are going to venues where everyone is older than 18, so not kids anymore?
I have noticed that there are plenty of younger people at events though, even some where I felt out of place. But, I'm not going there to meet people, just to listen and appreciate live music.

 

[SSwans2011]

I'd guess you are going to venues where everyone is older than 18, so not kids anymore?

Fair call if you're specifically referencing under 18s. There's still plenty of kids attending festivals or under 18/all ages shows when they happen, but most bands aren't going to be playing u18 shows because they're much less likely to be profitable. Not to mention, there's not many venues willing to put such shows on and cop the loss in revenue from booze sales. There's been a few venues that are friendlier to younger audiences that have had to shut down in Brisbane - one because council wanted to build a car park where the venue was, and others just because there hasn't been enough support to make them viable.

That effectively leaves kids with their choice of expensive mainstream shows to see until they turn 18. There's definitely not enough done to cater to younger audiences, but events that are friendlier to younger audiences aren't really there and those that are are often run by council and out-of-touch. There's definitely administrative and logistical issues, but there's more good music than ever out there waiting to be found.

 

[JackFlash]

It sure is dead. Most of the kids I have met over the last 20 years have never seen a live band, apart from other kids at school playing during lunchtime or at assemblies.

One of the greatest things about turning 18 was going out and seeing a live' band, not far from where i lived and just a few metres away from where the band was performing when you got there....There was a venue on every street corner or so it seemed. There is pretty much no one i haven't seen live in a pub or club in Australia, but the youth of today have no idea how exciting that all was....There is no medium that is quite so noteworthy for its lack of self-awareness as the music world.

 

[giggler99]

This is a good video on how Spotify is killing new music by restricting creativity by not allow independent artists to flourish due to their flawed algorithms as well as using those algorithms to exploit the listener to keep on listening to the some type of music deliberately restricting the listener to find and explore new artist and genres. The video also goes into more depths on the companies profit margins and the apps future sustainability.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

This is a good video on how Spotify is killing new music by restricting creativity by not allow independent artists to flourish due to their flawed algorithms as well as using those algorithms to exploit the listener to keep on listening to the some type of music deliberately restricting the listener to find and explore new artist and genres. The video also goes into more depths on the companies profit margins and the apps future sustainability.

I think the best use of Spotify is to listen to music that you've sourced elsewhere, rather than be dependent upon it's algorithm to school you in what to listen to. Whether those other sources are the artists recommended to you by friends, online radio channels, support acts of favourite bands you see live, or other websites that you inhabit etc.

I personally love Spotify - it's changed my musical life. I listen to it for at least 2 hours/day, of which less than 5% would be Spotify-recommended on average. I occasionally do the Spotify "daylist", but that exposes me to a plethora of new stuff rather than stifles my music exploration.

In terms of money spent on bands who I might once have bought a CD or vinyl? I spend waaayyy more on their gigs (and merch at the gigs) nowadays than I ever spent at the record store, and usually these are artists that Spotify has allowed me to discover in a depth that I wouldn't have previously been able to access as a mere punter.

 

[swingdog]

People that push the argument that old music is inherently better than new music are insufferable.

There's more music being released than ever so it stands to reason that there's more good music being released than ever. Sure you might have to go looking for it, but that's also more convenient than ever, so you're being disingenuous if you whinge about new music without actually making that effort.

I used to fall into that camp of glorifying old music and neglecting new music, but I started to change that around a decade ago, and now all 5 of the last 5 years I've felt it's been the best year I can recall for music because I keep finding new artists and have access to their discographies and new releases.

I like how people are happy to recall visiting friends houses to listen to new records back in the day, but aren't willing to hop on Bandcamp, or any of the various review sites, to find something new that's suited to their tastes. It's really not hard.

I don't care if people want to live in a nostalgia bubble, but the argument that music used to be better is just plain wrong.

You have to remember that Big Footy trends old, male and with an emphasis on rock music.

The complaint about no listening parties is particularly funny when you see teenage girls and young women spend weeks dissecting Taylor Swift’s new album.

That also points to a gender element. It’s noticeable that the biggest pop artists now are women. Not all men feel comfortable with that and tend to dismiss it.

As you say, there’s plenty of great stuff to listen to, it’s more that old people can’t be bothered finding it because, in truth, they don’t want to hear something new. They hold to the comfort of their youth. I’m sure this then feeds back into the industry.

Useful tip. Don’t bother with Australian commercial radio, go overseas (e.g. KCRW, FIP) and find some good critics (e.g. Robert Christgau, Pitchfork) and build your lists from there.