🎧 Music, Masculinity & Mouse Murder: Why Young Men Are Tuning Out—and 5 Songs to Bring Them Back
🧠 The Big Topic: Are Young Men Giving Up on Music?
Mark dives headfirst into some uncomfortable—but essential—truths this week. Based on new research, there’s a noticeable and worrying trend:
📉 Young men (16–24) are disengaging from music, especially live music.
Here’s What the Data Shows:
- 1 in 6 young men didn’t stream music in the past week
- Monthly live music attendance among U.S. males under 35 has sharply dropped
- In contrast, gaming and in-game spending are soaring
So what’s stealing their attention?
😵💫 A Cultural Vortex:
- ❌ Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) now draw more men than TikTok or Instagram
- 🧠 The “manosphere” is warping perceptions of masculinity and dragging men into toxic rabbit holes
- 💻 Music has become background noise, not a cultural anchor
❝ We used to cruise around with our friends listening to music. Now? They’re in their basements gaming and scrolling X. ❞
🎵 Why It Matters:
Music has always been a conduit for identity and connection. Without it, we risk losing:
- Empathy
- Self-expression
- Shared community
Mark’s call to action?
🎫 Bring back local venues, accessible scenes, and positive role models in music.
🎧 Rebuild that social fabric, one honest song at a time.
⭐ Honorable Mentions:
- Counting Crows – “Under the Aurora” 🌌
→ Follow-up to Butter Miracle Suite One, and it slaps for fans of the OG. - Sleep Token – “Caramel” 🍬
→ Second single off Even in Arcadia, lyrical intimacy from Vessel at his best.
🔥 5 Songs That Don’t Suck This Week
1. 🐑 Hunting for Sheep – Ratoon
Welsh indie rock blending the spirit of ’60s pop and ’90s Britpop (think James meets The La’s). Crunchy guitars, gritty vocals, singalong chorus, and a bassline that moves.
🎧 For fans of: The La’s, James, early Arctic Monkeys
“The bassline is sneaky-good. Totally under-the-radar pulse.”
2. 💔 Never Better – Wild Rivers
An emotional storytelling masterclass with rich harmonies and a lyrical twist you don’t want spoiled. Somehow never made the pod before despite being a Mark favorite.
🎧 For fans of: The Lumineers, Caamp, Mt. Joy
“Chef’s kiss for that clever lyrical pivot. I gasped.”
3. ⚡ Breakdown – Dog Park
Grunge gets a 2025 facelift. Big guitars, heavy emotion, and a crystal-clear production edge. Think Alice in Chains meets Nirvana but with a better EQ mix.
🎧 For fans of: Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins
“Grunge with clarity—you don’t get that often.”
4. 🩸 Stewart Little Killed God – Ben De La Cour
Dark Americana meets gothic folk in a slow-burner full of dread and swagger. Sparse drums, haunted vocals, and a bridge that breaks everything (in the best way).
🎧 For fans of: Nick Cave, Jason Isbell, Mark Lanegan
“It slinks. It slides. It sucker-punches.”
5. 🌾 Don’t Put It All On Me – Noah Cyrus & Fleet Foxes
A quietly devastating duet with pitch-perfect harmonies and a slow-building intensity. Written by Noah’s brother Braison, it’s folky, a little country, and fully captivating.
🎧 For fans of: Brandi Carlile, First Aid Kit, Iron & Wine
“Their voices melt into each other. Utterly beautiful.”
💬 Final Word: Music Can Still Save Us—But It Has to Try
Mark ends the episode with a plea to the music world: reconnect with young men before the cultural divide grows permanent.
❝ Music doesn’t just entertain—it anchors. Let’s bring back the scene, the soul, and the singalong. ❞
🌐 Stay Tuned, Stay Grounded
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🎨 …and I quote…
❝ We’ve made music feel like it’s not for young men anymore. That’s not just a music problem—it’s a societal one. ❞
— Mark Bradbourne 🎙️
