Recycling Hits: Is Pop Music Stuck in the Past?

Pop music today is practically built on nostalgia. From TikTok stars turned wannabe pop icons to mainstream pop queens like Ava Max, the music world has become obsessed with sampling the past. But why are artists so fixated on rehashing old tunes instead of creating something fresh? Is this simply a product of musical laziness, or does it reflect deeper cultural and economic trends, tied to times of economic recession? Most importantly, is this reliance on recycled sounds stifling the innovation that once made pop so irresistible?

Take Ava Max, for instance. Known for her catchy, anthemic pop hits like Sweet But Psycho, Max’s music frequently draws inspiration from classic disco, ‘80s synth-pop, and early 2000s club tracks. Meanwhile, TikTok stars like Dixie D’Amelio and Bella Poarch offer another layer of this nostalgia-driven trend as they attempt to transition from viral fame to pop stardom. These artists also lean heavily on nostalgic hooks and melodies, often sampling recognizable sounds to build their hits. D’Amelio’s Be Happy and Poarch’s Build a B*tch relied more on their TikTok personas than any fresh sonic identity, leaving their music feeling hollow, lacking the depth or meaningful messages needed to truly connect with audiences. This highlights a hard truth: while TikTok can propel someone to fame, it doesn’t guarantee longevity or artistry in music.

At the heart of this trend is the phenomenon of “Recession Pop.” This term refers to the euphoric, synth-heavy anthems that defined the post-2008 financial crisis music scene. Songs like Zedd’s Clarity and Calvin Harris’s Feel So Close paired emotional hooks with larger-than-life production, offering a sense of catharsis and unity in the wake of economic uncertainty. These tracks were not just escapist—they were anthems of resilience, inviting listeners to dance through their struggles.

The connection between economic hardship and musical innovation is nothing new. Following the Great Depression in the 1930s, swing music became a defining cultural force. Artists like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman gave listeners something to rally around with upbeat, infectious rhythms that turned hardship into community-driven joy. Similarly, the stagflation of the 1970s saw the explosion of disco, a genre offering escape through glitzy production and larger-than-life energy. From Donna Summer to the Bee Gees, disco became the soundtrack for a generation seeking light in the darkness.

Post-recession music has a way of capturing a particular cultural moment, distilling collective struggles and triumphs into sonic form. These iconic eras set a high bar, and many artists today seem intent on recreating that magic. However, the attempts often feel derivative, lacking the authenticity and innovation that defined the originals. Rather than pushing boundaries, many are settling for formulas that worked in the past.

While the desire to replicate past success is understandable, it risks creating a musical monoculture where creativity takes a back seat to familiarity. This over-reliance on the past leads to formulaic pop songs that feel more like algorithmic bait than genuine art. However, not everyone has fallen into this trap. Artists like Charli XCX represent the antidote to the recycling epidemic, proving that pop music doesn’t have to be tethered to nostalgia to succeed.

Charli, often hailed as a pop futurist, has consistently rejected the safety net of nostalgia in favor of crafting bold, experimental sounds. Her album Charli fused hyperpop with raw emotional storytelling, while her collaboration with PC Music artists like A. G. Cook redefined what pop music could sound like in the digital age. Tracks like Vroom Vroom and Gone are brash, chaotic, and unapologetically fresh. They don’t just break the mold—they blow it up entirely, proving that innovation and risk-taking are still alive and well in pop music.

The contrast between Charli XCX’s daring approach and the safe formulas of many TikTok stars highlights the core issue with today’s pop music landscape. While nostalgia and Recession Pop have their place, over-reliance on recycling risks stifling the creativity that once made pop so exciting. Sampling and callbacks to the past should serve as tools for building something new, not crutches for easy recognition.

Pop music’s recycling problem isn’t inherently a flaw—it’s a reflection of our cultural and economic moment. But as Charli XCX and other innovators demonstrate, the future of pop doesn’t have to be stuck in the past. The best pop music has always walked the line between the familiar and the novel, drawing from the past while carving a path forward. To define this era of pop, artists must embrace the same boldness and experimentation that made the genre unforgettable in the first place. After all, isn’t that what made us fall in love with pop to begin with?