The Guide #188: How 25 years of music has shaped the charts from monoculture to mass playlists

In this week’s newsletter: In the first in a new miniseries, we look back at the biggest songs of the 21st century to trace how music – and the way we consume it – has evolvedSomehow we’re a quarter of the way through the 21st century (or 1/40th through the new millennia, for those taking a really long view of things). How did that happen? It doesn’t seem long ago that I was sitting on a translucent orange inflatable sofa, clad in jeans so baggy that you could fit your entire face in one leghole, Discman in hand, wondering what the next century might bring. Time really does slip by quickly, doesn’t it?On the other hand, quite a lot has been stuffed into those 25 years, politically, technologically, environmentally and, of course, culturally. Now seems a good time to take stock. Once a month over the next three months we’ll be looking at how music, TV and film have evolved since 2000, as seen through the most popular songs, shows and movies – the pop in pop culture. In July, we’ll be sharing our favourite culture of the 21st century so far to coincide with the 200th issue of this newsletter. Continue reading...

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