Earlier this month, Tone Deaf reported on a new study conducted by Spotify employee Ajay Kalia, which allegedly concluded that people’s musical tastes reach stasis once they hit 33. In other words, we stop listening to new music soon after we reach 30.
The study was quickly derided by many music lovers in their 30s, who insisted that they still enjoy looking for new music, and was the subject of numerous op-eds, which examined whether or not there was any truth to Kalia’s findings.
The latest to offer her two cents is Australia’s own Myf Warhurst, and she does so in characteristically badass fashion. As far as the Double J presenter is concerned, the study is not only inaccurate, it’s totally flawed.
“If you believe what they say, you might as well don the slippers, start eating dinner at 5pm and ease in to a Jason recliner to watch Family Feud once you hit 33. Because the survey says… you’re out of touch,” writes Myf, via Double J.
“I acknowledge it is tough keeping up with what’s going on in contemporary music in your 30s,” Warhurst continues. “Things like kids and mortgages and full time jobs are prohibitive and time and money become restricted.”
“But if you believe the survey, it implies that once the rot has set in, we older folk recoil in horror when it comes to anything new. Instantly, we’re only comfortable with what we know. In his study, Kalia says of us, ‘by their mid-30s, their tastes have matured, and they are who they’re going to be.'”
According to Warhurst, the study is misleading because it is based on searches for “popular music” and not new music. Essentially, it bases its findings on whether or not 33-year-olds are looking for the new Taylor Swift instead of, say, Tobias Jesso Jr.
“Of course people over 33 aren’t perched at the computer searching for Katy Perry’s latest candy-coloured musical vomit,” Warhurst opines. “You can hear enough of that in the car driving the kids to school.”
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“By the time people hit their mid 30s, hopefully they’ve developed a thing called taste, as well as some broader interests. So while they aren’t searching for One Direction’s latest offering without Zayn (#RIPOneDirection), they might be searching for less popular music.”
“Possibly new music, from lesser known artists. This doesn’t make them out of touch – just more highly evolved.” In a sense, Kalia’s study is accurate in that we do develop individual musical personalities in our 20s, but that doesn’t mean they can’t encompass new music.
“Personally, I’m quietly relieved people over 33 aren’t searching for ‘popular’ music so much,” Warhurst adds. “Because doing so is probably the musical version of being a Toolie at Schoolies week. There’s nothing wrong with Taylor Swift every now and then, but we don’t want to be her bestie like the younger folk do.”
“It’s not fair to suggest new music terrifies people over a certain age. Sure, we like the old stuff, but I refuse to believe that the door closes on our musical life after a certain age. Because we’ve learnt that ‘popular’ music doesn’t always mean ‘good’ music.” Well said, Myf.
