Modern Pop Music has always "sucked" ; ) We just remember the best of the best from previous decades. The stuff that wasn't so good gets forgotten. So we end up with a distorted view of how music "was" vs. what it "is".
It's easy to say that it's all relative and we only remember the best stuff, but take an honest look at the quality of what's being put out there. For example, look at the
Billboard Hot 100 chart from 1980 versus
the same chart from 2010.
Sure, there are plenty of throwaways and one-hit wonders on the 1980 chart, but I can't help but see a stark contrast between the quality (somewhat subjective) and staying-power (more objective) between the artists and bands listed. Even comparing the top 20 names, it don't think anyone over 25 years old would think it's even a contest...
1980:
Blondie
Pink Floyd
Michael Jackson
Queen
Paul McCartney
Billy Joel
Elton John
The Spinners
All still in heavy rotation and loved by people across the globe. Whereas the top 20 for 2010 has only a few artists (very few bands) that will be remembered, much less played, in 30+ years. Maybe Usher, Eminem, and Lady Gaga, and even they will probably not be held in such high regard as the ones I listed for 1980.
I think that's about as apples-to-apples as it can be. Granted, we won't know how the modern artists will age, but my money would undoubtedly be on the older ones.
My pet theory is that the surge in purchasing power of younger teens and tweens is a contributing factor to the degrading quality of popular music. In the 90s, boy bands became huge because parents would give their kids money to buy CDs and pay $100+ for concerts. In the mid 2000s when those age groups got cell phones, so popular music was about creating a hook that would make a good ringtone (Crank Dat Soulja Boy, anyone?), and it kept going down that path where every kid has a smartphone, and hence access to a music store in his/her pocket. As mentioned already in the thread, the industry chases dollars and that's coming from the lowest common denominator.
It's not just the artists themselves. Look at all of the top 20 songs in 2010. Think about who this song is targeted towards. Almost every single one of them is aimed squarely at the young (under 25) female demographic. The top 20 songs and artists from 1980 were much more diverse in their audience and more universal appeal, imo.
Definitely agree that there's plenty of good music out there. Love those NPR Tiny Desk Concerts, and there are a few instances of cream rising through the charts, but overall, I think it's more complicated than to just say that it's all relative and we only remember the good stuff. That said, there are some great, older acts still touring, or going back on tour because people are realizing what great music they make. One thing that would help is for older people to spend money on good music again, so the industry will chase after those dollars more than the aforementioned demographic, and I say that as an old millennial.
