2025-09-10
Note: Recovered from an old blog archive.
Originally written April 16th, 2024.
# Thoughts on "When Do We Stop Finding New Music?[1]"
"The pervasive nature of music paralysis across generations suggests that
the phenomenon’s roots go beyond technology, likely stemming from
developmental factors. So what changes as we age, and when does open-
eardness decline? ... "Survey research from European streaming service
Deezer indicates that music discovery peaks at 24, with survey respondents
reporting increased variety in their music rotation during this time.
However, after this age, our ability to keep up with music trends
typically declines…"
Charles Arthur ponders via The Overspill[2]:
"I wonder if it depends on the radio stations you listen to? Being exposed
to different (new) musical styles makes a big difference."
While the internet has democratized (or ruined) a lot of our media,
there is an onslaught of cruft amongst the true gems and (for better or worse)
we no longer gather around the metaphorical "water cooler" having all tuned
into the same channel. I remember when my parents had to be home at a specific
time on a specific day to see the latest episode of whatever they were into.
Otherwise they would "video tape" it.
Streaming services aren't easy to "discover" because they force feed you based
on their algorithms. One of my larger gripes with these is the need to give
them a few genres and bands as starting points. I'd much prefer a "leave me
alone" option as I'm often "recommended" obvious artists.
It also depends on one's overall relationship to music. I'm a musician and
still writing and recording my own music. Most people are either quite boring
or simply have other interests and want to "just put something on" to go about
other business. I think if you're a curious person in general, you will always
be finding something new. Whether it's music, film, websites, software,
gardening tips, books...
Take Radiohead's "Kid A," for example. I bought that CD on a whim when it came
out not knowing anything about them. It was a bizarre album based on my tastes
at that time but little did I know it was subliminally introducing me to the
likes of Miles Davies (jazz) and Krautrock (two genres I had no relationship
to at that point). Car trips were long and the iPod did not exist, so there I
was, stuck with that disc. I listened over and over to that album discovering
it layer by layer and really taking to it. Streaming services create a
passivity and endlessness where you're more likely to miss out on something
great because it didn't immediately "click."
It's hard to say what the future holds for Bandcamp, but as of now they are
still giving me interesting recommendations in their weekly newsletter based
on my purchases. With Bandcamp I can also use their similar albums or find
digital labels to which I can explore their other offerings.
1.
https://www.statsignificant.com/p/when-do-we-stop-finding-new-music?r=vst&triedRedirect=true
2.
https://theoverspill.wordpress.com/israel-ai-war-hamas-targeting-start-up-2201#792670b43c81429d354aad38529cbf1c
