Mums The Word

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Something I said on the Other Place w.r.t. this BBC article:

If you look at the lists of #1 UK albums it's really only from 1964 that youth-targeted music dominates (and even then the Sound of Music OST is a massive seller in 66-67). I'd guess that listening to and socially enjoying popular music has been primarily an all-ages activity for almost all British history, barring maybe 40 years in the late 20th century. Which we happened to grow up in, so we think this trend is odd.

Is this true, or fair, or significant?

Comments

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

People being able to buy music to listen to is nearly as new a thing as the Young People's Popular Music, of course.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

And being able to buy things to play music on.

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

Well, yes. That's the bit you need first, and things that play pre-recorded music have only been about for a smidge over 100 years. I have zero clue how many people were able/willing to afford them, also, particularly as radio was a Huge Rival to the gramaphone in their early days.

Also, I am annoyed with the bbc for thinking that old people buy old people's music, and young people young people's.