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Music News: Average person stops seeking new music at age 29, says study

Shelves of vinyl.
Shelves of vinyl.Jem Stone via Flickr; CC BY 2.0

by Jay Gabler

July 18, 2018

According to a new study by the music streaming service Deezer, the average person is through looking for new music by the time they turn 30. To be precise, the study of 1,000 Americans identifies 29 years and 10 months as the point at which the average person stops making active efforts to find new music. 24% of respondents say that job pressures keep them from spending more time browsing for fresh sounds, while 15% cite family obligations.

Deezer's "interesting, if unsubstantiated" conclusion, notes Billboard, is that people may increasingly appreciate platforms that mix familiar music listeners know with new tracks they might enjoy. Platforms like, say, Deezer. Or The Current.

New music from Chance and Sade, probably sometime

On Monday, a Chicago Tribune story about Chance the Rapper indicated that his next album could be out "within a few days." Nope, not so fast, Chance later clarified on Twitter, dashing fans' eager hopes for quick gratification. (Pitchfork)

Meanwhile, a member of Sade’s band says that a follow-up to 2010's Soldier of Love is in the works, although they're far from ready to lock down a release date. Earlier this year the smooth songstress recently released a song, "Flower of the Universe," on the Wrinkle in Time soundtrack. (Pitchfork)

Today's awards news

The Grammys will head back to L.A. next year, following this year's Madison Square Garden ceremony. Nominations will be announced on Dec. 5, and the awards ceremony will take place at the Staples Center on Feb. 10. This will be the last ceremony presided over by Neil Portnow, the controversial outgoing CEO of the Recording Academy. His successor has not yet been determined. (Billboard)

Cardi B leads nominees for this year's MTV Video Music Awards. The rising star rapper is up for 10 awards, including Video of the Year for the "Finesse" remix she and Bruno Mars duetted on. Other top nominees include the Carters with eight nominations and Childish Gambino and Drake, who each landed seven. The awards will be presented Aug. 20. (Billboard)

The Polaris Prize shortlist has been announced, culled from the 40-album longlist of this year's top Canadian albums. Longlisters Arcade Fire, Gord Downie, and Sloan failed to make the cut, while Alvvays and U.S. Girls are among the acts still in the running. The winner will be announced Sept. 17 at the Polaris Gala. (Billboard)

New dance craze: The In My Feelings Challenge

The newest viral video dance craze has been coined the "In My Feelings Challenge," after the Drake song that soundtracked a dance video posted to Instagram by a comedian whose moniker is TheShiggyShow.

Musicians, actors, and social media stars have taken up the challenge. Who did it better, Doug the Pug or the Yale University Police Department? (Billboard)