Why do we stop listening to new music as we get older?

Yeah, there have been several studies that show that the vast majority of people stop discovering new music around the age of 30. Some say 33.

The most likely reason, is that from about one's mid teens up through their mid to late 20's, people are experiencing some of the best times of their lives. And the music they and their peer group listen to, becomes the "soundtrack of the best times of their lives". New loves, great wild parties with friends, going away to school, newly discovered independence, etc, etc, all with the music of their time playing while it is all going on.

Their experiences become inseparable from the music.

Music that comes after that time period of their lives, even if it is qualitatively no worse (or no better), does not have the same kind of connection. It is 'only music' now, it is not their soundtrack.

I actually have hardly any nostalgic feelings connected to music at all. I am never trying to relive my youth through music.  For me, music lives or dies based on its own musical merits. Either it has the attributes I love in music, or it doesn't.

I'm way too comfortable with my old blues music and don't do much exploring of new music, only occasionally.New arrangements of old music is interesting though.

 I can’t agree with this at all!

I’m older and I still like looking for and listening to new and new to me music. Heck, that’s the main reason I bought a streamer.

I am constantly finding new music. I occasionally play an album from my collection. 
 

The amount of new music has escalated exponentially since my streaming / digital side sounds as good as my vinyl.

I agree that most people here listen to the same old genre of music. Some people are stuck in Heavy Metal, which I don’t get, or the Stones..etc.. which I don’t get. When I was born, TV sets were 9-12” and only one person in the neighborhood had one. I like a lot of new music, but when I post about it, few respond and those that do like music from the sixties..etc. So, I agree that most people are set in their listening preferences and in my opinion, that is their loss.

I have been listening to a lot of Korean music and some of it is great. The videos are amazing due to some extraordinary choreography and insane dance skills. I like singles artist, most recently BiBi, who’s song “Weekend” was the highest Korean solo artist release in the US. BiBi is fluent in English and some of her songs are in English, but even the Korean songs have English refrains.. IU, is not only drop dead gorgeous and has a lot of great music, but some of it is just too girlie for me. Her backstory is amazing and her persistence can teach any of us lessons. A newer up and coming group is Txt (Tomorrow x Together) and they have some nice stuff, but in the US people only know BTS and they aren’t even together. Billie Eilish is another pretty impressive performer. Her most recent album, Happiness is very good…just ask Juan @blisshifi .. sorry for outing you Juan. I like “Sour” an album by Olivia Rodrigo. I have Eilish and Rodrigo on record. Lots of modern country is trash, but some of it is just great..an example might be some music by Morgan Wallen. I don’t know what genre it is but “Human” by Rag’n Bone Man is pretty impactful. Some of the editor’s choice on Quboz are really good. Indila is a French singer and worth a listen. Try her album “Indila”. Old genre, but newer artist, try Japanese jazz pianist Yuko Mabuchi.. some great 45rpm record sets.. Lots of different sounds out there. None of these artist produce music that is stellar across their musical careers, some like Wallen produce so much music that something is bound to be good. All of it is worth a listen and no, a few songs chosen at random don’t necessarily represent what any of these artist bring to us. Some have many different styles. Take a look at the marathon threads regarding what people are playing tonight and see the same old “me too” stuff over and over, but hidden there are some great new artists/music.