ABSTRACT
This article examines the intergenerational consistency of tastes and preferences in popular music over time. It tests Stigler and Becker’s theory that tastes are stable by searching for changes within elements of popular music. A data set of the top 20 songs from 1961 to 2021 was constructed and the variables of beats per minute, song length, and the instruments used in these hit songs were examined. ANOVA and OLS tests were used to search for significant changes that may have occurred over time. The results show beats per minute and the use of some instruments were consistent over time, but that song length and the use of other instruments has varied over time. The results indicate that the preferences of each generation change slightly from those of the previous generation, thus adding to the work of Stigler and Becker.