Are We Getting Dumber? Why Music Got Simpler
After comparing the Grammys of 1984 and 2026, one comment came back constantly:
“Music is simpler now.”
That’s true.
But not because musicians got lazy.
Music didn’t die — it adapted
Songs today are:
- shorter
- simpler
- more repetitive
Not by accident.
Evolution isn’t one-directional.
Technology evolves forward.
Humans… not always.
Attention span changed everything
People:
- scroll faster
- listen less deeply
- skip quicker
- get bored sooner
Complexity doesn’t survive in short attention cycles.
The market follows behavior, not ideals.
IQ, skills and demand
Over the last decades:
attention span dropped
basic skills declined
instant gratification increased
Music didn’t “get worse”.
It got optimized for the current listener.
The real question
Could a 12-minute complex song like Pink Floyd, Queen, Dire Straits, Iron Maiden, Metallice or even King Crimson survive today’s ecosystem?
Maybe.
But not as a mainstream product.
Music didn’t die.
It adapted to how people consume.
Transcript
In my last video comparing the Grammys—1984 vs 2026—many people commented that music is simpler these days.
And that’s true. Music used to be more complex.
Modern hits are shorter, simpler, and more repetitive.
Not by accident.
Evolution is bidirectional:
technology evolves forward … but humans evolve backwards.
People have a shorter attention span than before.
And IQ and basic skills have dropped hard over the last two decades.
The market follows supply and demand.
So no, music didn’t “die.”
It got optimized.
Do you think complex music and 12-minute songs could survive these days?
Take Your Guitar Playing To The Next Level!
Wouter Baustein
Music Producer, Music & Mindset Coach
If you like clear, practical guitar and music coaching instead of random YouTube tips, you need structure. My guitar books and coaching programs give you that structure, so you can finally make real progress and level up your playing.
