With Trump Returning as President, How Might Music Change?

The first thought on Wednesday morning was that there seems to be an SNL Curse. Any female U.S. presidential candidate — even one who appears to be on the path to the White House — ultimately loses the election after appearing on Saturday Night Live. First, it was Hillary Clinton in 2016, and now it’s Kamala Harris in 2024.

There’s curiosity about how the music scene might respond to the new Trump administration. Culture often mirrors societal shifts, and historically, music trends have aligned with the political climate, whether the leadership leans right or left. This connection between politics and music aligns well with the concept of a recurring 13-year cycle alternating between pop and rock dominance.

During Dwight Eisenhower’s Republican presidency in the 1950s, American music saw a surge in rebellion, helping to birth rock ‘n’ roll. Folk music, with its left-leaning, progressive voices, also found its footing during this period. Eisenhower’s terms paved the way for a generation that wanted to push against the status quo, and music became a tool of rebellion.

The subsequent Democratic administrations of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson brought massive social changes, driven by the baby boomers, the Vietnam War, civil rights movements, and the fight for women’s equality. The chaotic atmosphere of the 1960s saw a flourishing of music that mirrored the era’s demands for progress and justice. Artists channelled their anger and hope into songs, reflecting the boomers’ desire for change.

With Republican Richard Nixon’s presidency beginning in 1968, music became louder and angrier. Rock music intensified, birthing heavy metal (think Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple) and the early strains of garage rock, which would later evolve into punk (bands like The Stooges and MC5). Protest songs surged, as musicians voiced discontent with the political landscape, making it a golden era for outspoken rock.

After Nixon’s resignation in 1974, his Republican successor Gerald Ford couldn’t maintain the party’s hold on power, and Democrat Jimmy Carter took office. The punk movement, already simmering in New York with bands like the Ramones and Talking Heads, exploded during this transition and found a foothold in London with acts like the Sex Pistols and The Clash. Punk’s raw energy and righteous anger were direct reactions to years of right-wing governance, making the genre a powerful form of rebellion.

Under Carter’s presidency, despite some economic challenges, there was a collective sigh of relief following the Watergate scandal. Music reflected this shift as disco took off, New Wave brought a quirky edge, and feel-good pop dominated the airwaves. It was a time when people were eager to party and enjoy a respite from political turmoil.

However, the arrival of conservative governments led by Ronald Reagan in the U.S. and Margaret Thatcher in the U.K. in the 1980s marked a turn. Economic hardships, including a severe recession with interest rates exceeding 20 per cent, dulled the appeal of upbeat music. In its place, darker, heavier genres emerged: hardcore punk, goth, industrial, hair metal, and other intense styles. Pop still had its moments later in the decade, but its dominance was overshadowed by a wave of hard-hitting rock.

The early 1990s began under another right-leaning administration, and young people, especially Generation X, felt disillusioned. A recession, the first Gulf War, and the bleak economic outlook made them sceptical of achieving the prosperity their parents had enjoyed. This frustration fuelled a rock revival on both sides of the Atlantic, with grunge, punk, industrial, and Britpop dominating the music scene. Rock, along with the rapidly growing hip-hop movement, became the voice of a generation demanding change.

But this era was short-lived. When Democrat Bill Clinton became president in 1992, and with Margaret Thatcher’s controversial tenure ending in the U.K., the political landscape began to shift. An improving economy took the edge off the anger that had fuelled rock’s dominance. Pop music, with its focus on feel-good hits and the rise of girl groups and boy bands, once again took the lead, reflecting a more optimistic cultural mood.