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‘80s, ‘90s, or Today? The Decade of Music Gen Z Listens to Most

Songs from every decade seem to trend daily, but YPulse data shows which decades young people are truly listening to most…

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Jul 8 2025
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Young people listen to today’s music more than any other decade
Music tastes are formed as teens, and they keep going back to those hits as they grow up
For brands, nostalgic tracks have their moments, but to connect with young consumers new hits can’t be beat

TikTok has been a major player in bringing older tracks back into the spotlight, making songs from decades ago feel fresh again. Classics like Connie Francis’ 1962 hit “Pretty Little Baby”, Radiohead’s 1997 track “Let Down” (which never charted until TikTok gave it new life), and Janet Jackson’s “Someone to Call My Lover” are just a few examples of older songs that have recently gone viral, with the latter even inspiring a surprise performance at the American Music Awards. But how much of this viral nostalgia actually makes it onto young people’s regular playlists, and how much is just social...