Noticing a very interesting trend

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
Tonight at the corporate event that I did, there were no requests for newer music.

My in person requests from guests were

1. U2 - Pride
2. John Cougar Melloncamp - Paper and Fine
3. Dexy's Mid NIght Runners - Come On Eileen


With that said...I had NO 20 somethings in this crowd, LOL. Everyone was like age 40 to 65 at this company it appeared to me. So probably not a good crowd to make an inference off of.


98.5% of the music from the past 5 years has been either complete garbage, or weak radio hits that is mildly hot for 3 to 6 weeks then disappear. The few power songs that have come out are so over played that people don't care to request them at events or when they are out any more
 
I still do a bi weekly bar show, crowd is early 20’s to 40’s. The younger people are heavily requesting older music, I rarely get requests for anything from the last 5 years. And a ton of request for 80’ and 90’s and even classic country
I am in that age range and I would rather listen to 90's music over 98% of what has been released in the last 5 years , I am not surprised by your findings.
 
I still do a bi weekly bar show, crowd is early 20’s to 40’s. The younger people are heavily requesting older music, I rarely get requests for anything from the last 5 years. And a ton of request for 80’ and 90’s and even classic country

Same with my Friday night bar gigs I don't think I played more than 2 or 3 newer than 2013 in there this month
 
I'm right in the middle of that demographic. Aside from a very few newer songs I'm usually listening to either music from the late 90s-early 00s or Motown era stuff.
The current issue of AARP's magazine, with Smokey Robinson on the cover, has a superb article on Motown inside - well worthwhile finding a Senior Citizen that gets it. My favorite Berry Gordy quote (Motown's founder) - "I'm going to start my own record company. We are not going to just make black music - we're going to make music for the world". Wow, did they ever!!
 
I think if you scan your radio dial you'll find many more stations that are "best hits of 80's to present" rather than the typical current hit radio. New music is not particularly original or creative, (with some exceptions) and with the internet people with very narrow tastes are able to find what they want elsewhere - and listen to it on their headphones.

The change in radio sparks a change in public appeal among all the remaining people who don't have their ears covered 24/7 with headphones. Radio is a good indicator because their primary business is advertising NOT music. What they chose to play is based on what keeps the most people tuned in at any given time of day.
 
The current issue of AARP's magazine, with Smokey Robinson on the cover, has a superb article on Motown inside - well worthwhile finding a Senior Citizen that gets it. My favorite Berry Gordy quote (Motown's founder) - "I'm going to start my own record company. We are not going to just make black music - we're going to make music for the world". Wow, did they ever!!

It's funny Mowtown was never big here I actually had to go learn Motown as opposed to be submerged in it like I was with Rock, Pop and Country. Although it would still only make up 1 or 2% of any given playlist I do get the odd request these days
 
OK, i agree 100%, the new music in the last 5 years is complete garbage bar a few songs .

If it is true that younger ones are now sliding to music of the past like the 80's then why is it the newer songs have often over a billion views on YouTube yet the much older ones are only in their thousands?
 
OK, i agree 100%, the new music in the last 5 years is complete garbage bar a few songs .

If it is true that younger ones are now sliding to music of the past like the 80's then why is it the newer songs have often over a billion views on YouTube yet the much older ones are only in their thousands?
I don’t think it’s indicating kids like the old music... as pro said, kids are listening to streaming music that is fine tuned to their personal preferences. Radio is changing to the needs of older listeners who still enjoy radio and a larger variety of music. Kids knowledge of music has diminished since they don’t listen to radio that plays a variety. Keep in mind though, there is some older music that has made its way into pop culture and has brought a brief revival for certain songs here and there.
 
I think if you scan your radio dial you'll find many more stations that are "best hits of 80's to present" rather than the typical current hit radio. New music is not particularly original or creative, (with some exceptions) and with the internet people with very narrow tastes are able to find what they want elsewhere - and listen to it on their headphones.

The change in radio sparks a change in public appeal among all the remaining people who don't have their ears covered 24/7 with headphones. Radio is a good indicator because their primary business is advertising NOT music. What they chose to play is based on what keeps the most people tuned in at any given time of day.

You are correct, Bob.
But the decrease in Top-40 radio has very little do with the quality of the music.
These days, the 20-something age group doesn't have "extra" money to throw around...
so they are fast becoming a demographic that isn't worth trying to attract with advertising.
When I started in radio, the 20 year olds had plenty of money to burn....
and it was the older crowd that no one was trying to reach!
It's purely NUMBERS: listeners and dollars.
 
These days, the 20-something age group doesn't have "extra" money to throw around...
so they are fast becoming a demographic that isn't worth trying to attract with advertising.

Mike, I'm guessing that age group has no interest in radio (sorry) and consider it outdated technology.

They've switched to streaming.....

I guess that age group also thinks the same could be said for mobile DJ's...outdated and no need...again due to streaming.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausumm
Mike, I'm guessing that age group has no interest in radio (sorry) and consider it outdated technology.

They've switched to streaming.....

I guess that age group also thinks the same could be said for mobile DJ's...outdated and no need...again due to streaming.
Some of us ARE out-dated .. or at least dated.
 
The young crowd has plenty of money to spend.
There just aren't many of that listen to radio - and when they do they scan the dial never really stopping on any one station for more than one song.
 
most folks get stuck on the songs/music of the hs or college years (and often the hair style of back then as well...LOL)

With spotify and youtube the 'kids these days' listen to a huge wide variety of things. The 'classic' music of the 80s and 90s is what they heard growing up on their parent's CD players, so it's familiar to them, and while it's 'old' music it's good music, especially compared to much of todays pop music.

I have 2 school dances coming up and collecting the current hits this past week it definitely shows that hip hip is copy hop..and crap. I can't see how anyone could listen to it for enjoyment, relaxation, etc.

I'm seeing a big jump in latin rhythims with ALL ages - hs thru mid 30s at least. Go look at some of the top 40/top100 song charts and you'll see it too. Even here where there isn't much of a latin population. At least it better than hip hop these days.

So the question is...you plan clean lyrics...in every language or just english? One of their requests is available in its original form (all spanish) or a clean lyric english version...
 
  • Like
Reactions: dunlopj