In the world of music streaming, older songs seem to be much more popular than new releases. Data from platforms like Spotify and Deezer shows that despite a massive daily release of new songs, the majority of streamed music is from five or more years ago. The phenomenon suggests a growing nostalgic trend among listeners.
Older songs like Zara Larsson's "Lush Life" and classics from Michael Jackson and Fleetwood Mac continue to top charts years after their initial release. This trend creates a difficult environment for new and emerging artists to gain recognition and achieve chart-topping success. Newer songs struggle to compete with nostalgic favorites despite receiving millions of streams.
In both the UK and US, what the music industry calls its "deep catalogue" or older catalogues are performing better than fresh hits. This outcome is not just a challenge for artists striving to make new hits but also for music platforms trying to encourage new music discovery.
As platforms like TikTok continue to spotlight viral tunes rather than sustained artist success, many argue for a need to promote greater connectivity between artists and listeners. It suggests a societal preference for the familiar, highlighting challenges for creators of new sounds. Streaming services and music companies recognize these trends and are actively seeking solutions to support emerging talent amid this wave of nostalgia.
Original news source: Music streaming: Why we're listening to so many old songs – BBC News (BBC)
🎧 Listen:
📖 Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
1. Discuss a song that you loved five years ago.
2. Name a classic song that you still enjoy today.
3. What was the most recent song you discovered?
4. How do you usually find new music?
5. Share a moment where nostalgia hit you recently.
🤔 Comprehension Questions:
Older songs are currently more popular than new releases in music streaming.
Platforms like Spotify and Deezer.
They find it challenging to gain recognition and success.
The 'deep catalogue' or older catalogs.
There is a preference for familiar music.
It spotlights viral tunes over sustained artist success.
They are seeking solutions to support emerging talent.
🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
In the world of streaming, older seem to be much more popular than new releases. Data from like Spotify and Deezer shows that despite a massive daily release of new songs, the majority of streamed music is from five or more ago. The phenomenon suggests a growing nostalgic trend among listeners. Older songs like Zara Larsson's "Lush Life" and classics from Jackson and Fleetwood Mac continue to top charts years after their initial release. This trend a environment for new and emerging artists to gain recognition and achieve chart-topping success. Newer songs struggle to with nostalgic favorites despite receiving millions of streams. In both the UK and US, what the music industry calls its "deep catalogue" or older catalogues are performing better than fresh hits. This is not just a for artists striving to make new hits but also for music platforms trying to new music discovery. As platforms like TikTok to spotlight viral rather than sustained artist success, many argue for a need to promote greater connectivity artists and listeners. It suggests a societal preference for the familiar, challenges for creators of new sounds. Streaming services and music companies recognize these trends and are actively seeking solutions to support emerging amid this wave of nostalgia.
💬 Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think people enjoy older music more?
2. What role does nostalgia play in your music choices?
3. How might this trend affect future musicians?
4. Are there any old songs you didn't like initially, but appreciate now?
5. How do you usually discover new music?
6. Do you prefer viral songs or consistent artist albums?
7. How important is music variety to you?
8. How do streaming platforms influence your music taste?
9. Should streaming services promote new music more?
10. What makes a song a 'classic' to you?
11. Does TikTok impact what music you listen to?
12. How do you think the music industry should support new artists?
Individual Activities
📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.










