Music streaming: Why we're listening to so many old songs
This article mirrors the previous report on the dominance of older music in streaming services. It highlights that nostalgia and 'deep catalogue' hits are significantly outperforming new music releases in the current market.
Why it matters
Understanding these consumption patterns is vital for streaming platforms and record labels to adjust their investment and marketing strategies.
Image source, Getty Images for iHeartRadio Image caption, One of 2026's biggest hits is Zara Larsson's Lush Life, originally released in 2015
More music is being created than at any other time in human history. Every day, more than 100,000 songs , external are being submitted to streaming services.
And despite the deluge of AI music , external - Spotify says it has removed 75 million "spammy tracks" from its catalogue - real music still makes up most of our listening. The streaming service Deezer says AI accounts for just 0.5% of streams on its platform.
The problem for all those artists creating new music is that our listening habits increasingly show a love for nostalgia.
Luminate, an independent entertainment data and analytics company that tracks music, film, and television consumption first started tracking music streaming in 2008.
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