H'mmm. I didn't know this was a 'battle' I thought this was pretty much 'case closed'. See links below.

On the matter of "one's preferences". To my way of thinking, it's a sign of limited development of one's taste, if for the whole of your life, you only listen to the music you were weaned on.

I grew up with classic rock and so it has the comfort of familiarity, sure. But I also think (objectively) that it had much wider diversity and range than any pop on the market today. It contains a cornucopia of different sounds and moods.

Accordingly, it's no surprise that not just 'one' study but *many* studies and reports support this. The industry itself admits it (albeit, very furtively).


Links:

Pop music engineered too be overly- loud (to cover up blandness)
https://tinyurl.com/gtp7xfp

Why so many modern pop songs sound alike
https://tinyurl.com/j5hwbpa

Scientists finally prove that pop music all sounds the same
https://tinyurl.com/n7wxzwf

Not our imagination: bubblegum pop music really uniform
https://tinyurl.com/kqj7p4q

Bob Dylan Says Mp3 Sound Quality 'sucks'
https://tinyurl.com/mzefzau
https://tinyurl.com/mz3hfmu


All that being acknowledged, classic rock is still not my favourite musical form. I progressed past it. I now have a couple dozen styles I listen to regularly--dixieland jazz probably being my #1. Certainly didn't grow up with it, though.

Like I said, you can't just stay developmentally stagnant. After all, there's plenty of rock music which is specifically geared for the adolescent mind; even the emotionally-distraught adolescent mind. Would anyone want to hover in that limbo forever?

Just sayin'