Gen Z, Gen Q, Gen ABC … I don't keep up with those “distinctions”.
I've got kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. I have always told my kids that the music from my generation was the “best music”. Yes, it's a subjective point of view. However, after a while, my kids started paying attention to their own music, and then they started asking, “Is the 'original'?” Most of the time, I could tell them the original artist, and thanks to the wonders of YouTube, even find the song so they could listen to it. But I'm not the only one who thinks the music of my generation was great! I found an article published by Mako News, and it justified MY bragging! LOL.
Card, Marlee. “The Best Music Was Made before Gen Z Was Born – and They Know It.” Mako News, 11 Sep. 2025, https://www.makomedia.nova.edu/the-best-music-was-made-before-gen-z-was-born-and-they-know-it/.
Why Gen Z Keeps Rewinding the Clock: A Quick, Punchy Summary
The Mako News article argues that Gen Z is increasingly obsessed with music from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, not because it’s trendy—but because it feels real in a hyper digital, oversaturated music landscape. With today’s constant flood of “New Music Friday” releases, younger listeners are gravitating toward older artists whose work carries authenticity, emotional grit, and cultural staying power. From Nirvana tees to Fleetwood Mac TikTok revivals, Gen Z isn’t just dabbling in nostalgia—they’re reviving it.
The piece highlights how the recent passing of Ozzy Osbourne (1948-2025) reignited interest in his catalog, with streams spiking past 18 million monthly listeners. It also notes that Gen Z is driving the vinyl resurgence, with 76% buying records monthly, and that social media algorithms are turning decades-old tracks into viral moments.
Ultimately, the article concludes that while modern music cycles quickly, the classics endure because they were built on raw emotion, live instrumentation, and cultural impact—qualities Gen Z craves.
Gen Z isn’t just romanticizing the past—they’re curating it. In a world of infinite choice, they’re choosing music that feels intentional, emotional, and human. Whether it’s the warmth of vinyl, the rawness of a live guitar riff, or the timeless storytelling of classic rock and soul, younger listeners are proving that great music doesn’t age—it echoes.
If anything, Gen
Z isn’t reviving old music.
They’re preserving it.
(FYI Gen Z = Born 1997 to 2012.)
YEAH! THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING ALL ALONG!!
Here are Some Extra Music History Gems (because I just won't stop bragging 'bout my generation) 😊
1. The “Loudness Wars” Changed Modern Music
Starting in the late ’90s, record labels pushed for louder, more compressed tracks to stand out on the radio and playlists. This reduced dynamic range—one reason older music feels more alive and emotionally textured. Gen Z’s preference for vintage sound isn’t just nostalgia; it’s physics.
2. MTV Once Dictated What the World Heard
When MTV launched in 1981, it revolutionized music discovery. Artists like Madonna, Prince, and Michael Jackson didn’t just release songs—they released visual eras. Today’s algorithm-driven discovery lacks that shared cultural moment, which is part of what Gen Z is seeking in older music.
3. Vinyl’s Comeback Isn’t New—It’s Cyclical
Vinyl first resurged in the mid 2000s, but Gen Z has pushed it into a full-blown renaissance. What many don’t know: vinyl outsold CDs in 2023 for the first time since 1987. The tactile ritual—dropping the needle, flipping the record—creates a listening experience modern streaming can’t replicate.
4. The ’70s–’90s Were a Golden Age of Studio Innovation
From analog synths to multitrack recording, this era birthed the tools that shaped modern sound.
The ’70s gave us the Moog synthesizer and the rise of funk and disco.
The ’80s introduced digital sampling and the iconic gated reverb drum sound.
The ’90s perfected grunge, hip hop sampling, and alt-rock production.
Gen Z’s fascination is partly a fascination with the birth of the sounds they hear today.
5. Radio Once United Generations
Before algorithms, everyone heard the same hits at the same time. That collective experience helped cement artists like Queen, Whitney Houston, and U2 into cultural memory. Gen Z’s rediscovery of these acts is a way of reconnecting with that shared musical heritage.
🎵
REFERENCES:
Vickers, Earl. “The Loudness War: Background, Speculation and Recommendations.” Audio Engineering Society, 2010.
Austerlitz, Saul. Money for Nothing: A History of the Music Video from the Beatles to the White Stripes. Continuum, 2007.
Sisario, Ben. “Vinyl Outsold CDs Last Year. It’s the First Time Since 1987.” The New York Times, 9 Mar. 2023.
Pinch, Trevor, and Frank Trocco. Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer. Harvard University Press, 2002.
Douglas, Susan J. Listening In: Radio and the American Imagination. University of Minnesota Press, 2004.
