Why we're listening to so many old songs
Streaming data shows that listeners are increasingly favoring older music over new releases, with 'deep catalogue' tracks dominating consumption. Despite the massive volume of new music being uploaded daily, nostalgia remains the primary driver of streaming habits in the UK and US.
Why it matters
This trend highlights a significant shift in the music industry's economy, where legacy artists and back-catalogues are outperforming contemporary creators.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Thomas Spencer Getty Images for iHeartRadio 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 are being submitted to streaming services.
And despite the deluge of AI music - 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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