How Gen-Z has Transformed Music
By Alexis Taylor
By Alexis Taylor
It's no secret that music is powerful. It can change moods and generate ideas. And now Gen-Z is making their own mark on the music industry. Yep, that's right! Gen-Z now controls the most popular music today. Here are the reasons why.
First of all, TikTok. I mention this because of the incredible impact it has on the popularity of songs. People even make songs on TikTok, called "TikTok songs.” Claire Rosinkranz is a perfect example of this. Her song "Backyard Boy" from the EP "BeVerly Hills BoYfRiEnd" was previewed on TikTok--and it went viral. She had 300k views on her video in May and over 1.6 million people used her song to make their own videos in August. And hers isn’t the only song to go through this process!
Next, so many musicians are teenagers. Take Olivia Rodrigo, for example. She's only 17 and her song, "Drivers License," is blowing up. "Drivers License" broke the record for the most-streamed song in a week and a day on Spotify! It is also the most-played song on Apple Music worldwide and it is the number one song on the Billboard Top 100. Her song is also used everywhere on TikTok in videos. Conan Grey, Billie Eilish, Khalid, Olivia Rodrigo, and more are all famous young singers who relate to Gen-Z.
Thirdly, Gen-Z is a very effective target audience. Nowadays, these artists want to relate to the younger generation. All these songs are filled with emotion and have ideas embedded into the song. In Conan Grey's "Heather" the song talks about how someone has a crush on someone that they know, but their crush likes someone else. It's a sad song, talking about how they wish they were "Heather.” And this is very clearly directed to a younger audience.
A lot of teenagers relate to this message, and they made it very clear, by blowing up the song on TikTok, remixing it, singing covers of it, and so much more. So many songs recently talk about issues in America, broken hearts, or other topics that relate to teens. And Gen-Z might not realize it, but they are deeply affecting the music industry.
Image link: https://sportsmediachallenge.com/reach-generation-z-using-music-tool/
First of all, TikTok. I mention this because of the incredible impact it has on the popularity of songs. People even make songs on TikTok, called "TikTok songs.” Claire Rosinkranz is a perfect example of this. Her song "Backyard Boy" from the EP "BeVerly Hills BoYfRiEnd" was previewed on TikTok--and it went viral. She had 300k views on her video in May and over 1.6 million people used her song to make their own videos in August. And hers isn’t the only song to go through this process!
Next, so many musicians are teenagers. Take Olivia Rodrigo, for example. She's only 17 and her song, "Drivers License," is blowing up. "Drivers License" broke the record for the most-streamed song in a week and a day on Spotify! It is also the most-played song on Apple Music worldwide and it is the number one song on the Billboard Top 100. Her song is also used everywhere on TikTok in videos. Conan Grey, Billie Eilish, Khalid, Olivia Rodrigo, and more are all famous young singers who relate to Gen-Z.
Thirdly, Gen-Z is a very effective target audience. Nowadays, these artists want to relate to the younger generation. All these songs are filled with emotion and have ideas embedded into the song. In Conan Grey's "Heather" the song talks about how someone has a crush on someone that they know, but their crush likes someone else. It's a sad song, talking about how they wish they were "Heather.” And this is very clearly directed to a younger audience.
A lot of teenagers relate to this message, and they made it very clear, by blowing up the song on TikTok, remixing it, singing covers of it, and so much more. So many songs recently talk about issues in America, broken hearts, or other topics that relate to teens. And Gen-Z might not realize it, but they are deeply affecting the music industry.
Image link: https://sportsmediachallenge.com/reach-generation-z-using-music-tool/