It seems pop/rock music hasn't really changed much in the last 10-20 years, but I'm an old fuddy duddy so maybe it has. If it's the same manufactured stuff as it's been for a while, maybe it's pushback on that.
Stylistically, pop has changed significantly even in the past 10 years. Going back 20, the differences are even more striking. Of course, chart-topping pop songs are mostly very manufactured, but that's been true for 100 years.
Rock is no longer a "mainstream" genre, in the sense that rock acts generally don't top the charts or occupy a large space in the zeitgeist (hip hop has replaced rock in this area). But I think this has been healthy for rock; the genre is now more fractured, and as a result, more varied and experimental. (Don't @ me metalheads. I love metal too but it is not a mainstream genre)
Sorry if that got a bit rambly -- just wanted to point out that there is tons of evolution in contemporary music. It can be harder to see that, though, since music streaming has taken a big chunk out of the music monoculture. That means finding interesting music is more accessible, but requires individual effort to seek out (and the sheer quantity can be overwhelming).
There has been a lot of innovation in the metal scene. (Though structurally, metal is supposedly the closest genre to classical music, and I find myself listening to more jazz and classical, now that I found a bunch of contemporary metal bands that I like.)
Here is an eclectic list of example metal bands from the last decade:
You’re an old fuddy duddy. There’s a lot of interesting stuff going on. But I think the hyper pop segment led by 100 gecs is the most interesting of it all if you want to take a look at what the kids are doing.
