An analysis of 17,000 songs shows that 1991 was the most revolutionary year in popular music in America. So, that’s settled. https://t.co/QZtnyEbxlA

— Ethan Mollick (@emollick) February 1, 2022

That was before Clear Channel had taken over radio stations and before all the record labels had consolidated. That said, there is a lot of great music out there now, but it’s harder to find in a lot of ways. (Which is strange, because the internet should make it easier.)

Also in 1991, prudishness was near a low and openness near a high, so that too explains part of it. I don’t think ’91 was actually the greatest era of music ever or anything. I tend to like the music now better. But it was the year Nirvana’s Nevermind and the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik was released, while Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos came out only six days into 1992 — all on major labels.

Nothing like that will ever happen again.