Maybe I'm wrong about this, but I have a feeling it's because the primary demographic of music listener is getting younger and younger. With streaming platforms like Spotify and Youtube, I imagine that teenagers and even young children have a huge sway over what the music industry produces and represent an increasing fraction of their revenue. Not to mention businesses are likely using music more than ever (it plays over the speakers on planes when boarding and de-planing, in stores, restaurants, gyms, etc.) and they all try really really hard to avoid something that is offensive, which usually means lowest common denominator, plain vanilla garbage. That being said, I really wonder about their database. They are certainly including more than just pop using that many pieces of music.
I pretty much disagree with any premise that music is getting worse, in general. Pop music, maybe, but the sheer quantity and variety of amazing work out there can't be understated. I've found so many life changing works of music that have been produced after 2000 and continue finding them all the time. Anyone saying music is getting worse either isn't looking in the right place, or is stuck in their ways.
You're not wrong. Adults have an ability to discern crap from talent. Children don't know the difference, and will buy what's pushed at them. This is very different from the 1940s, 1950s, where a record (and phonograph, speakers, amplifier) was expensive and music was primarily purchased by adults. The demographic shift is rather profound -- where the average age used to be in the high 30s/low 40s, to today, where it is teenagers.
I don't agree that pop music is becoming more vanilla and less offensive. In fact I think it's demonstrably quite the opposite -- much more vulgar and crude. Just a few moments spent with modern "music videos" should dispel any notion of bland, inoffensive art.
I pretty much disagree with any premise that music is getting worse, in general. Pop music, maybe, but the sheer quantity and variety of amazing work out there can't be understated. I've found so many life changing works of music that have been produced after 2000 and continue finding them all the time. Anyone saying music is getting worse either isn't looking in the right place, or is stuck in their ways.