Music Elitism: Why We Should Stop Judging Music by Its Era

Music, much like fashion, television, and popular culture, evolves with time. Every generation develops its own sounds, styles, and musical identities. Yet, just as people often criticize contemporary fashion or television for failing to match the trends they grew up with, modern music frequently faces harsh criticism from listeners who believe the best days of music are long gone.

There seems to be an unspoken belief among some music enthusiasts that few artists could ever match the musical brilliance of The Beatles, that legendary rock music must begin and end with bands such as Queen and Led Zeppelin, or that contemporary pop artists represent everything wrong with the modern music industry. Justin Bieber, for example, has often been used as a symbol of what critics perceive as the decline of popular music.

But does the popularity of new music necessarily mean that musical quality is declining? Or are we sometimes too attached to the music of our own generation to appreciate what comes next?

Why We Compare Modern Music With the Classics

One reason people dismiss contemporary music is that it can be difficult to connect with songs that reflect the experiences, emotions, and cultural concerns of a different generation. The music we grow up listening to often becomes intertwined with our memories, friendships, relationships, and formative experiences. A particular song may remind us of our childhood, our first love, or a period of life we remember fondly.

As a result, music from our younger years can hold a special emotional significance that newer songs have not yet had the opportunity to develop. This attachment can make older music feel more meaningful, while unfamiliar sounds and lyrical styles may seem shallow or uninteresting by comparison.

It is easy to dismiss contemporary lyrics as meaningless or modern pop as mindless entertainment. However, doing so overlooks the diversity of music being created today. Every generation produces artists who experiment with sound, challenge conventions, and explore complex emotions and ideas.

The problem is not necessarily that modern music lacks quality. Sometimes, the problem is that we judge it using standards shaped by our own musical experiences.

Modern Music Is More Diverse Than We Think

The belief that contemporary music is inferior to older music also ignores the extraordinary variety of sounds available to listeners today. Modern artists continue to experiment with musical structures, unconventional lyrics, electronic production, alternative rock, and a wide range of influences.

Artists such as alt-J have developed distinctive sounds through unusual arrangements and experimental songwriting, while Courtney Barnett has earned recognition for her conversational lyrics, observational storytelling, and understated approach to alternative rock. Meanwhile, listeners seeking heavier sounds can still discover bands that draw on the traditions of groups such as Black Sabbath and The Ramones, even as new artists reinterpret those influences.

For those who enjoy psychedelic music, Tame Impala offers immersive soundscapes that blend psychedelic rock with contemporary production. Listeners who prefer energetic dance music, introspective songwriting, experimental compositions, or catchy pop melodies can find artists working in each of these areas.

None of this means that every contemporary artist is exceptional. Rather, it demonstrates that modern music cannot reasonably be dismissed as a single, inferior category. There is too much diversity within it for such a judgment to be fair.

Was All Older Music Really Better?

Nostalgia can also influence how we remember music from previous decades. We tend to celebrate the most influential albums, memorable songs, and enduring artists while forgetting much of the ordinary music that failed to leave a lasting impression.

This selective memory can create the illusion that nearly everything released in the past was meaningful, original, or musically superior. In reality, every era has produced both remarkable achievements and forgettable releases. The difference is that time allows the most enduring work to stand out, while countless less successful songs gradually disappear from public memory.

Modern music has not escaped this process. Some songs that dominate the charts today may eventually be forgotten, while others may become defining works of their generation. We cannot always know which contemporary artists will have a lasting cultural impact.

It is therefore unfair to compare the most celebrated music of the past with an entire generation of present-day releases. A more meaningful comparison would consider the best, the average, and the worst of each era.

Music Does Not Have to Be Complicated to Be Meaningful

Another common criticism of popular music is that it is too simple. Critics may point to repetitive lyrics, predictable melodies, or straightforward song structures as evidence that modern music lacks artistic depth.

However, musical complexity is only one way of evaluating a song. A composition does not necessarily need elaborate instrumentation, unconventional time signatures, or deeply symbolic lyrics to connect with its audience.

Sometimes, the purpose of music is to help us relax after a difficult day. Sometimes, it is to make us dance, celebrate with friends, or forget our worries for a few minutes. At other times, music can provide comfort, communicate complicated emotions, or encourage us to question the world around us.

A simple melody that brings happiness to millions of listeners can fulfil a purpose just as legitimately as an intricate composition that rewards careful analysis. These experiences are different, but one does not automatically invalidate the other.

Music serves many purposes, and its value cannot always be measured using a single standard.

Music Taste Is Personal, Not a Competition

There is nothing wrong with preferring classic rock to contemporary pop, jazz to electronic music, or independent artists to chart-topping performers. Personal taste is an essential part of the listening experience, and everyone should be free to enjoy the music that speaks to them.

The problem begins when personal preference becomes a claim of intellectual or cultural superiority. Enjoying a particular band does not make someone a more sophisticated listener, just as enjoying a popular song does not make someone musically uninformed.

Music elitism turns a personal experience into a competition in which listeners attempt to prove that their preferences are more legitimate than those of others. Instead of discussing what makes a song interesting, people begin arguing about which artists deserve recognition and which audiences have supposedly inferior taste.

Such arguments rarely lead to a deeper appreciation of music. More often, they prevent listeners from exploring unfamiliar artists and discovering sounds they might otherwise enjoy.

Learning to Appreciate Music Across Generations

Appreciating music from different eras does not require abandoning our existing preferences. A lifelong fan of Queen does not need to stop listening to classic rock to explore contemporary artists. Likewise, someone who enjoys modern pop does not need to reject older music to defend their taste.

Instead, we can approach unfamiliar music with curiosity rather than immediate judgment. We can ask what an artist is trying to express, why a particular sound resonates with its audience, or how a song reflects the cultural environment in which it was created.

This approach can make listening more rewarding. It may introduce us to new genres, challenge our assumptions, and help us understand the experiences of people whose lives differ from our own.

We may not enjoy every song we encounter, and that is perfectly fine. Open-mindedness does not mean pretending to like everything. It simply means recognizing that our personal dislikes are not universal measures of artistic failure.

Conclusion: Let Music Be Music

Good and bad music exist in every era. Some older songs remain timeless because of their songwriting, originality, emotional power, or cultural influence. Some contemporary songs offer equally compelling qualities, while others are created primarily for entertainment. Neither category has a monopoly on artistic value.

The purpose of music is not identical for every listener. One person may seek technical brilliance, another may value meaningful lyrics, and someone else may simply want a song that makes them feel good. These preferences can coexist without one being inherently superior to another.

Perhaps the real problem with music elitism is not that people love the classics too much, but that they sometimes use their love of the past to dismiss the possibilities of the present.

We do not have to agree on which artists are the greatest or which decade produced the best music. We only need to recognize that our musical preferences are personal, shaped by our experiences, and open to change.

After all, music is meant to be heard, experienced, and enjoyed. Rather than spending our time proving that someone else’s taste is wrong, we might discover something far more rewarding by listening with an open mind.