Why Everything Feels The Same Now
This episode is about why everything feels the same in our culture despite how fragmented our media is. The common belief is that we used to live in a monoculture. In past decades, most of us listened and watched the same things.
But after sitting with this for a while, I’m no longer sure this is true. Instead, I now believe that the current algorithms make 2026 more of a monoculture than 2006 or 1996 ever was.
I brought on Tati Cirisano to make the case for and against the concept of monoculture across music, media, fashion, language, and more.
You can listen here or read below for five big ideas from this episode:
1. Monoculture is here, but it looks different
The perception of monoculture from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s was built around scarce channels and the power that those decision makers had. There were limited TV channels, radio stations, inventory at record stores, movie theaters, and shared broadcast moments.
But our measures of consumption weren’t as precise as they are today. Album sales were measured based on units shipped, often estimated by the weight of a pallet. There was no data to measure the consumption of media that was already purchased. The list goes on.
Meanwhile, today’s culture is influenced by platforms and the massive stages they offer. Our culture may now be more fragmented in consumption, but more uniform in how it’s presented because of the algorithms.
Algorithms are the new gatekeepers.
2. We confuse fragmentation with differentiation
There are more niches than ever today, but those niches often look, sound, and behave similarly. There’s more segmentation, yet less differentiation.
People may consume different artists, shows, creators, and platforms, but the aesthetics, incentives, formats, and language increasingly converge.
3. Today’s megastars prove the new dynamic
Today’s biggest stars are proof that monoculture is stronger than ever. In music, movies, and TV, we used to cycle through A-level stars every few years.
But today’s megastars have stayed on top for quite some time, especially those who were established before streaming and social media blew up in the mid-2010s.
When everyone has millions of options, the established megastars who can still concentrate attention become even more powerful.
Tati called it a “split vote” effect. Fragmentation makes the true mass-market acts stand out even more.
4. Hits may matter less, but the biggest moments still feel huge
In the episode, we discussed BPI data showing that the UK’s top 100 tracks accounted for a smaller share of total annual audio streams in 2024 than they did in 2016. That supports the fragmentation argument. But streaming adoption changed over that period, and 2024 still produced broadly felt moments like “Espresso,” “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and brat. There are two sides to the coin.
5. Live events may be the last stronghold of both mainstream culture and true niche culture
Live events can create the biggest shared cultural moments because they are synchronous: everyone reacts at once.
But they are also among the most differentiated experiences left, especially smaller concerts, conferences, and local gatherings where people feel part of a distinct world. That makes life one of the few places where both monoculture and subculture can still feel real.
These are just a few takeaways! We also discussed:
Why “song of the summer” may still exist
How social media incentivizes sameness
The difference between consuming and knowing
The cultural collapse of regional accents, slang, and teen-oriented media
You can listen to the episode here.