Artists get better with age, e.g., painting. Yet when it comes to pop music, the famous work tends to be written when musicians are in their twenties. So, why aren't Bob Dylan or the Stones banging out amazing tunes now?

If we accept the question’s premise that Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones aren’t banging out amazing tunes anymore (I agree about the Stones, not familiar with recent Dylan music), then perhaps it’s because most popular musicians can’t figure out how to make great new music that reflects the experience of getting old.

But they were outliers. Most popular music comes from young people who aren’t thinking long term about aging, and they often have trouble adjusting their music and image as they get old.

David Bowie got old enough to contemplate his imminent death and make haunting music about the experience.

Is Europe willing to risk losing its alliance with the United States, if they choose to continue the war in Ukraine?

Here’s a scrappy 60s rock song about young people telling their elders to fuck off.

Seeing a 2023 Rolling Stones video featuring some sexy Sydney Sweeney dancing on a convertible was…weird, considering Sweeney is young enough to be Mick Jagger’s granddaughter.

Most modern popular music styles, whether it’s rock, pop, rap, etc., is made by young people, for young people. It’s not necessarily well-equipped to speak to the deepest desires and concerns of the elderly.

Why do Americans and foreigners alike describe the USA as prudish? Why do I see nothing prudish about the USA society? USA feels like one of the loosest countries although Americans claim to be very reserved.

Here are 2 young women singing a hedonistic sex song. I don’t know many elderly people who want to get down in da club to EDM-pop with sexy lyrics.

Not all popular musicians are like this. The Beatles made an effort to reach out to every age demographic. Off the top of my head, I know of no other band that was equally comfortable making silly children’s songs and imagining what it would be like to get old.