Besides the ugly name, the biggest problem for the audiophile hobby is making it more inclusive for a younger, more diverse group of buyers. This is basically a summary of the FutureAudiophile.com Mission Statement. For far too long, the audiophile hobby has been a fully male-dominated group that is filled with dudes listening to music alone in their darkened, often messy audio rooms. Old habits die hard in the audiophile world, but the concept of always listening alone or not embracing a more social element for the enjoyment of the bobby is one that needs to change. That change is coming whether OG “original gangsta” audiophiles like it or not.
Tell Me Some Good News About the Audiophile Hobby – Not Just That Baby Boomers Are Old …
Baby Boomers ARE old at this point, with most in their 70s and 80s today. They won’t live forever, and they know that. None of us will live forever, and there are younger audiences who are passionate about music, but they are sometimes being underserved by the normally anti-change-first audiophile establishment. Need examples? The Compact Disc comes out and the establishment likes vinyl better the next day. Streaming gives us unthinkably cool, unlimited access to every recording ever made for the price of one CD and the establishment isn’t all that jazzed about being an audiophile in a world without silver discs. Today’s Class-D amps sound just like tubes without wasting energy, creating heat and needing any maintenance (think: tube rolling or tube biasing) but somehow GaN, Hypex or Pascal chip-based amps aren’t game-changers with the establishment. They will catch on, eventually.
The first bit of good news starts with the fact that younger people love music more than any of us older folks. They were born with unlimited access to music and while a trip to Tower Records will never mean the same thing to them as it did to a Gen Xer, they love music as well as technology, and their love knows no gender barriers. Add into that equation of how technologically savvy these younger demographics are, and you’ve got the perfect audience to introduce to the audiophile hobby.
Next, on the good news front, you’ve got return to mainstream popularity for turntables and vinyl. Perhaps it is an anti-technology statement or just the overall kitsch factor of LPs, but it is well-established fact that younger people (male and female, mind you) like playing records. They like turntables. These are luxury status goods, and they are wildly considered cool in this highly sought-after target demographic that this industry must start wooing. Who knows more about turntables than audiophiles? Nobody. As Millennials age and increase in buying power, they will have more and more money to spend on discretionary items like an upgraded audiophile turntable. We need to be ready for them when they come to the store, but they’ve got reasons to stop by and do some shopping.
Lastly, today the video gaming market is bigger than all music and movie software combined. In less than five years, this delta in top-line AV media sales and video gaming is expected to double again. Young people, especially men but not exclusively, like our current position in the audiophile hobby with close to zero women involved, are drawn to gaming. They socialize via gaming platforms. It dominates their devices and uses large volumes of free time for this target demographic. The good news is that enthusiast gamers learn a love for high-performance sound and image, which is a rock-solid start. Next, they are aware of the value of chasing the Nth degree of performance and how that can sometimes be expensive. You can buy a replacement mouse at Staples for $20, but Razer sells a carbon fiber one with fiber optics in it, an ultra-fast clicker and no click latency for $300. Does that remind you of anything about the audiophile hobby? Is there one audiophile retailer who has figured out the gaming opportunity? I seriously doubt it, unless Best Buy counts, as they are the only place that I know where you can buy some 800 Series Bowers & Wilkins and/or some McIntosh electronics along with an Alienware gaming PC and some badass gaming headphones. Today, that is only Best Buy, but someday soon, somebody is going to see that the guy who can buy that $30,000 stereo preamp is just as likely to spend the same amount on a video gaming race car simulator, the kind we see sold at the CEDIA Expo. Instead of a $10,000 power cord, they might want to purchase a restored vintage video game machine like Ms. Pac-Man. The audience has changed, even if the establishment hasn’t figured it out yet.
Playing Relatable Music When Younger People Visit the Stereo Store or Your Audiophile System
This is not a scary topic, as some have suggested to me. Access to basically every recording ever made comes from each and every respectable music streaming platform. I am a Qobuz guy, but Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music and others each have all of the music that you will ever need for these out-of-the-ordinary audiophile demos for younger people. You need to be stocking up on Compact Discs or LPs from Amazon to be prepared. There are HD versions of nearly all these songs for you, on demand.
Younger people truly love the music of Boomers and Gen Xers. This isn’t like playing Elvis for the first time to somebody from the Greatest Generation. If Big Band music is your cup of tea, Elvis or Chuck Berry is pretty mind-blowing, and perhaps a little musically hard to digest. We don’t have these problems with younger audiences. Almost universally, younger people love The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. They love (who doesn’t) Yacht Rock, which as a genre is defined by Steely Dan, an audiophile classic band if there ever was one. Younger audiences are drawn to all sorts of songs that are part of our upbringing. A key to these more relatable songs comes from Madison Avenue ad agencies, as well as Hollywood movie studios. Allow me to illustrate …
Spandau Ballet’s “True.” Talk about a jam? This song says “Seventh Grade Dance” more than perhaps any other for me, but this slow jam extraordinaire is also a time-tested, radio-proven hit. A classic with appeal to a generation that Madison Avenue can’t resist and the audiophile hobby needs to embrace – younger people. A few months back, there was a Bank of America television ad set at a young couple’s wedding, and the spot points was how people were using new-school technology to send the bride and groom cash gifts (I prefer the old cash-filled envelope but I err on the side of Tony Soprano on this topic), while appealing to this audience with old-school music. The ad ran on TV forever, as it has cross-generational appeal and was effective at getting its message out. With Madison Avenue behind the song, and with pretty awesome bass playing, why not use this as a more relatable audiophile demo?
Starbuck’s “Moonlight Feels Right.” If I am not mistaken, this song wasn’t much of a hit when it came out, but because of its Yacht Rock stylings and Hollywood revival, the song has made a very unexpected return to multi-generational popularity. The catchy hook and groovy Moog synths are soothing to hear, so much so that the song was used in the animated movie Trolls. Trust me when I tell you the money that studios spend on music for movies is big-time. While “Moonlight Feels Right” isn’t going to be insanely expensive like something from AC/DC or Bob Marley, it isn’t going to be pennies, either, if it musically plays a big part in a feature film. Hollywood music supervisors know which songs appeal to younger and older people. Let’s call this “The Sesame Street Effect,” as these are heard in most of the shows that appeal to Generation X and older Millennials, too. Regardless of age, watch an episode of Bluey, and you will understand the point.
Beyonce’s “Blackbird” and Marcin’s “Kasmir.” Picking modern recordings of cover songs can appeal to many listeners. Some of my best 2024 audiophile demo tracks from my reviews accomplish this goal. Beyonce’s “Blackbird” is a sonically killer demo track. Lennon and McCartney never fail to lure in the listener, thus this is a no-brainer great demo. Marcin’s acoustical Eddie Van Halen-inspired tapping version of “Kasmir” brings a whole new take on a very comfortable rock and roll melody all wrapped up in an awesome audiophile demo track.
Steely Dan “Hey Nineteen.” Nobody listens to the lyrics anyway, right? This is a song that is Yacht Rock Boomer-tastic and everybody loves it. I think “Hey Nineteen” is my all-time favorite song from Steely Dan, and by avoiding Aja (not that there is anything wrong with Aja, other than it being a bit played out in audiophile circles), you keep things fresh. Would a young couple, say in their 30s, vibe on a track like this? You are most likely to hit some musical gold here. Remember, younger audiences love themselves some Yacht Rock, present company included, and Steely Dan is widely considered the grandfather of Yacht Rock. What is the one factor that immediately makes a song more Yacht Rock? That would be backup vocals from Michael McDonald, and guess what? “Hey Nineteen” delivers in an audiophile quality jam that everybody is likely to enjoy.
And this is only a start to a list as there are dozens and dozens of high quality, high resolution tracks that meet the tastes of generations ranging very very young to very old.
Some Final Thoughts About Using Relatable Music with Younger Listeners …
No matter what your age, whenever you play your audiophile system (even for a few short minutes) for other people, you have a chance to share the joy that we know comes from the hobby. On the surface, spending big dollars on stereo gear might seem wasteful or ostentatious. When you dig a little deeper, you might see that the components hold their value well over time and even have real-time health benefits, like quickly lowering one’s blood pressure via listening to some moderately chill music.
The hobby is at a demographic crossroads that it has never faced before, and there’s no debating that the audiophile business, as well as the hobby, is better with more people involved. This includes younger people, obviously. That only makes it more important to make the hobby appeal to its target demographic, as the ad and movies wizards know how to do. Playing relatable music makes the audiophile hobby more relatable to more diverse listeners. And the best part is that you don’t have to exclusively play music haphazardly recorded on an iPhone and released on TikTok a few weeks ago. You can find agreeable super-jams from any decade if you follow some of the loosely-defined musical guidelines mentioned above.
It is time that we make the audiophile hobby more inclusive and approachable. That means rethinking how we enjoy our systems, as well as our music. With this introspection, don’t be surprised to see many more diverse, younger people warm up to the passion that we all share for a premium music playback experience.
Do you have any demo tracks that you’d like to add to the list? How do you feel about the audiophile being more inclusive? Why are there no women in the audiophile hobby? We love to hear from you. Comment away and we will post your thoughts in the blink of an eye.
A $10,000 “starter system” to listen to Taylor Swift? Well, maybe, in an alternate universe. But yes, hopefully a few will back into being an unsuspecting audiophile after they put in a 5.1 or 11.2 system to make their video games more realistic with the helicopters and missiles flying overhead and left to right, and one day they’ll play some music and think, “Hey, this sounds pretty good”. We can hope. And yes, I am old, but I deplore the term “Yacht Rock”. Steely Dan back in the day was just considered good music recorded well, end of story. That people still play it to demo systems says more about the declining engineering skills in studios (and the producers) than about the audiophiles who still play it.
I agree, I hate the term, “Yacht Rock”. Back in the day most of it was called Adult Contemporary. Some of what is called that now was also on AOR stations as well, STeely Dan, The Doobies etc.
As the son of an FM radio programmer from the 1970s in Philly… AC is a valid format. With that said “Yacht Rock” is a bit more specific.
I would say it needs to included Michael McDonald in it or have Steely Dan involved to be premium Yacht Rock.
I love this genre of music. It is from a more simple time. More simple music. Predictable. I like it.
I like the term Yacht Rock, I also really liked the documentary on HBO. It was fun, simple, and frankly helps keep the music alive with a younger generation. Watched it with my kids and they loved it. (The documentary was fun, though left out the copious amounts of drugs and cocaine that were a part of it). I know Daryl Hall hates the term (but for some odd reason Daryl Hall has been angry for years it seems). Donald Fagen I actually think was in on the joke at the end when he tells the interviewer to “go fuck yourself”… while at the same time allowing like 6-7 songs to be used in the documentary. It’s great music, and heavily relies on nostalgia to keep it alive as strongly as it is today.
Side note, we are older parents for our youngest’s travel softball team. “Regulate” by Warren G was played as some kids walk up song. A couple parents got real exited… I asked if they preferred the original track by Michael McDonald. Nothing but blank stares… so I had to do a little educating. Ended up having a good laugh.
You nailed it!…and….there’s another approach to this too: we have a generation of music fans who have never heard music except thru the mediocre earbuds that came with their cellphone. They’ve never heard any audio that even approaches ‘audiophile quality’ sound. Their home often doesn’t even have an FM radio, let alone a decent audio system. Maybe they’re got a smart speaker (mono) or a decent home theater, but is it ever used just to listen to music? Probably not. Even if their vehicle has a good stereo, there are zillions of younger folks who have never experienced music that’s played thru a much-better-than-a-smart-speaker sound system. There are many pairs of ears that would love it if they actually heard it. And though I agree that using music that’s relevant and familiar is important, I’ve demo’d my audio system for young people using (gasp!) classical music! This is another experience that’s foreign to them…but (can you believe it?) they are always blown away with what they’ve heard. There are two separate eye-openers here: (a) amazing sound and (b) new and dynamic (though unfamiliar) music!
Yes, and not just for younger people. I went to a high-end cartridge demonstration in a very good UK HiFi shop a couple of years ago, and all they played was gentle jazz. Such a waste. When I suggested a bit of Bob Marley they looked at me as if I was mad.
I listen to everything from classical to pop. Among many current artists and groups I love Olivia Dean and Sigrid (I’ve seen them both live), as does my daughter. She has very discerning ears and has come with me to many HiFi shows over the years. She helps me assess changes I make to my system. Sadly she’s never going to sit down and listen to Shostakovich 8, but she will listen to Sigrid’s music, and it’s very appropriate for testing a system as she has such a beautiful and powerful voice (and 180g pressings too!). So I keep seeking out modern music that I enjoy and that engages my daughter. Music didn’t end with Led Zep/Beatles/whatever – it’s still developing!
Bob Marley is like Sinatra or Trip Hop (Thievery Corporation like stuff) which is the “luke-warm water” of music.
Playing just noodling jazz isn’t much of a demo.
I am sorry that you got that experience.
Try Tom Morello’s cover of “Voodoo Chile” with my compliments.
You folks miss the point of reggae, it is about the message, the music is just the vehicle
Reggae as music is “non-aggro” which all sorts of people love – including me.
It has wide appeal even if you don’t listen to the words.
There ain’t nothing wrong with that genre
Sparking interest in young people is an enigma. I have a daughter who will soon be 40, she grew up with me being an audiophile. I bought her a small Technics mini system for her bedroom when she was a teen. She still loves music but never bought a system. She wants my record collection after I’m gone. I was planning to sell the collection at one point which hurt her feelings. I expressed to her she doesn’t even have anything to play them on. It was the memories of me collecting and playing she remembers. She does have a system now I helped her with, some used components mostly. She has the money it’s just priorities.
I have a daughter 14 who is into music, mostly Rap and stuff I cringe at. I would still play it for her if she had interest in listening on my system. She is content with an Alexa device and phone with whatever earbuds. What is maddening I will send her a song to listen to then ask have you listened to it, she usually doesn’t unless I bug her. She mostly finds new music from Tiktok as you mentioned. LOL
I met a young guy on an audio social media venue, part of a group. He is disabled but really into audio. I sent him a pre-ampand power amp I just had sitting in a closet. Nothing very expensive but more than he’d be able to get at this point on his own.
I believe I commented before on a similar article I feel a person has to have the passion in order to become an audiophile. The type of passion that motivates one to spend money on audio that might have otherwise been spent in other hobbies or recreation. However, one wouldn’t be able to find that passion without exposure, to your point. So kudos for reviewing the inexpensive gear along with the higher end. I think your site does the best mix of reviews out there.
you’ve got a bigger gap with your kids than me (3 and 13)
Your LPs likely aren’t worth a ton so giving them to her would be smart/cool.
Maybe see if she would be into building a SUPER-MODEST CHI-FI like system? Maybe a U-turn turntable or something fun? Colorful but good?
The gap in children is due to adoption 🙂 I do like Yacht Rock I just don’t like the label.
My daughter who wants my LP’s does have a small system now I found her a set of Kef R3’s, a Technics SL-D2 and she picked a Dayton Audio HTA-200. I was hoping to talk her into a better amp initially but I was surprised at how well the Dayton performed.
My 15 year old is begging for my parents Albums someday. Lots of OG 70’s pressings of Fleetwood Mac, the Doobies, some Zeppelin etc. Hoping that conversation is along ways off, but appreciate that she wants them.
Does she have a turntable?
Perhaps an all-in-one from Andover is a place to start with her?
Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Death on Two legs”
DTS version?
Stereo Version?
I was very much involved with DTS Entertainment back in the days of DVD-Audio. It was fun but a game that nobody could win because of the $$$ the labels wanted for access to their better albums. $250,000 up front plus amazing costs to remix and master to 5.1 on DVD-A. Ouch. There’s two hits on that record. It sold like 50,000 units on DVD-Audio – making it the best selling title of all time.
My kids (13, 16, 20, 22) all love music, and in particular love Yacht Rock. In part because I (52) love Yacht Rock… because my parents (73) played it while we were loaded up in the family truckster driving around the country to go on vacation. As Jerry said, it’s from a more simple time. We play it on our boat during the summer quite often (with some 80’s mixed in) and as a result my kids like it. My kids all have a varying degree of appreciating “good sound” as they have had access to my rig for years. Sometimes they will come down and want to hear a song on my system and will immediately comment on how good it sounds. That said, I don’t expect any will have a system like mine as they get older. One in particular (15) LOVES vinyl as much to look at and put the albums up on her wall. That is the one thing that streaming loses, that tangible connection to the artwork and liner notes. (Roon has it digitally, but you still lose that tangibility).
I do see a point where a system that possibly uses vinyl and streaming, and powered (likely by class D) speakers would be appealing to her demo. My 20 year old also likes vinyl for the same reasons, but while in college streaming is just much easier.
I used to throw my amp/preamp/and klipsch forte speakers in the back of my 85 accord hatchback to take home over breaks in the early 90’s. I laugh about that now. I don’t see that happening for kids again.
BUT the industry should be marketing the killer powered speakers that are out there, that are compact and at times can connect via bluetooth/wireless to a small subwoofer to this demo.
Maybe I’m not understanding your meaning fully, but Bob Marley & Sinatra the “luke-warm water of music???” Ok, so maybe Marley popularized Peter Tosh etc., but anything but luke-warm. Sinatra & Nelson Riddle (sp?) luke-warm, really? I listened to Sinatra at an early age because my father was a big fan. I’ve read he was very exacting about the sound & recordings, how it was produced. The original bad boy rat packer & a voice few can touch.
Michael,
Let me elaborate.
Bob Marley, a lot of Sinatra and Trip Hop (think: Thievery Corporation type stuff) I call Luke Warm Water musically because it appeals to many and offends few.
At my wedding, we had a big, studio band play Brazilian Jazz. Also, add that the above category. Did they play “Girl From Impanema” twice? Likely but nobody minded.
My point is to find some musical “common ground” but I think you pointed out that I could have used a better analogy. 🙂
PS: MY grandmother, Adele, as a teen in Hoboken, New Jersey babysat Frank Sinatra. 🙂
How about something actually MODERN? These tracks are all great and all but they’re hardly for “younger” people. Something like “Automaton” by Jamiroquai or “Tadow” by Masego, FKJ or “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran or “Tutti Frutti” by New Order. All tracks younger people can actually appreciate and would relate to more.
It seems there is no BLACK music, or audiophiles in this universe
I am from Philly.
My father was an FM radio programmer who played all of the Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff “Philly Sound” stuff on the radio.
This article isn’t written with racial bias. Not one bit.
My best demo of last year was a Beatles tune (while as it gets) done by Beyonce’ (I’ve met her and she’s black). The color of a musician’s skin is irrelevant to me as compared to the notes they play or the songs that they sing.
And go to an audiophile show like AXPONA or Capital Audiofest and you will see some men of color. A good number. What’s missing is not black people – it is WOMEN. Holy shit – the audiophile industry is a total “sword fight”. My last female writer/editor left in 2018 for The New York Times (wirecutter) and I couldn’t be more proud. Do I miss her? I do but she’s done so great. I hope to see her at CEDIA. And as to the level of effort that we’ve put into finding diverse voices – it is HUGE. Women being the hardest to find. I am NOT DONE TRYING.