Why the Music in the Charts is Rubbish —And Why That Should Worry Us

Spend a few minutes listening to the music charts today, and you might notice something odd: where have all the bands gone? The guitar solos? The harmonies crafted in dusty rehearsal rooms? Increasingly, mainstream hits are written by teams, performed solo, and built on samples rather than instruments. This isn’t just nostalgia talking or the moaning of an old fart—there’s real evidence that popular music is becoming less musically diverse and, in many ways, less human.

Producer and YouTuber Rick Beato has spoken at length about this trend. He points out that today's chart-toppers often lack the harmonic complexity, dynamic range, and instrumental variation that defined music just a few decades ago. Yes - modern music all sounds the same! Beato attributes this to over-reliance on digital tools, formulaic songwriting—and a striking lack of musicianship.

It begs the question: are we raising a generation of listeners who no longer expect musicians to play music?

Fewer Children Are Learning Instruments

One of the key culprits is the slow erosion of music education in schools.

A 2024 report showed that 42% of UK state-funded schools no longer enter students for GCSE Music—a staggering statistic that points to a nationwide de-prioritisation of music education . A 2019 House of Lords Library briefing further noted that more than half of surveyed schools failed to meet even their basic curriculum obligations for music, often due to budget constraints or a push toward more “measurable” academic subjects.

And it’s not just music. Drama, visual arts, and dance are all seeing reduced timetables and funding. The consequences are clear: fewer children are picking up instruments, fewer are joining bands, and fewer are becoming the well-rounded, expressive, creative learners our society so badly needs.

The Consequences Go Beyond the Charts

Studies have shown that learning an instrument in childhood improves memory, attention span, and emotional regulation. Children who engage in music education tend to perform better in other subjects—including maths and languages—due to enhanced brain connectivity and discipline. One study highlighted by Classic FM even showed that musical training significantly boosts children’s ability to focus and recall information.

So when we talk about the decline in music quality, we’re not just talking about radio hits. We’re talking about what we’re choosing to nurture—or neglect—in our children.

A Different Vision: Ambleford School, Opening September 2025

This is one of the driving forces behind the launch of Ambleford School.

After years of running outdoor education programmes, holiday clubs, and forest school experiences, I’ve seen time and time again how children thrive when they’re given the space to be creative. Whether it’s banging out a rhythm on a log, turning sticks into sculptures, or performing a play in the woods, children naturally gravitate toward the arts when they’re not being tested or constrained.

At Ambleford, we’re building an alternative school that puts music, art, storytelling, drama, and creativity at the heart of learning—not shoved to the periphery. Our aim is to raise learners who not only think critically and solve problems, but who can express themselves, connect with others, and create beautiful things.

That means our children will learn real instruments, not just play on tablets. They’ll sing around campfires, build stage sets in the woods, and bring stories to life with their own voices and imaginations. We believe that’s how whole children are made.

Let’s Bring Back Real Music—and Real Learning

We’re at a cultural crossroads. The charts may be full of pre-packaged hits, but our children deserve more. They deserve to learn an instrument, to paint a picture, to stand up and perform something they’ve made with their own hands and hearts.

If we want to see more musicians in the charts who actually play, if we want to raise confident, creative, resilient children, we need to start with education. Real, messy, joyful, expressive education.

That’s what we’re building at Ambleford School. We open our gates in September 2025 for two days a week Flexi-School.

Come join us in raising the next generation of makers, players, dreamers, and doers: www.ambleford.com