Modern music isn't as recognizable because there's way more of it, it's more varied, and doesn't get played a billion times over radio and MTV to a huge audience. The record industry isn't what it was at all, as detailed in your link. Jukeboxes with a selection of hits used to exist, now they're like spotify clients instead. I don't agree with you saying it's less enduring, though. That's a different thing. You shouldn't confuse popularity and number of plays for quality. For me there are some songs I'll hold on to a long time that I first heard in the last 10 years. There's still great music being made, IMO, but then pop from any era rarely was what I'd call good.
Speaking to that, the most played song on Spotify, ever, is "Blinding Lights" by The Weeknd. Came out 5 years ago, and it's "okay"; funny enough, it triggers a lot of 80s nostalgia with its instrumentals. So, there's a data point for you to ponder.
What I find really interesting of late is YouTube Music suggesting sleeper hits to me, that were big 20-30 years ago, but somehow missed out on them. "Somewhere Only We Know" has been on rotation in some shopping venues & showed up on my playlist; it was a hit, 20 years ago, yet somehow missed out on it.
Really? I get annoyed because after 4 or 5 decent picks based on whatever song I start with, it inevitably shifts to the most well-known, overplayed singles by any related band.
