Can We Bring Back the Five-Minute Song?
What happened to the five-minute song, the kind with a guitar solo in the middle that takes you somewhere unexpected? How did we get to a place where most songs barely reach three minutes? Somewhere along the way, the music industry shifted, and something meaningful feels like it was left behind.
I remember when guitar solos were an adventure within a song. They weren’t filler; they were moments people looked forward to, especially musicians. A great solo reveals another dimension of an artist’s talent and emotion. Guitar leads can express just as much feeling as lyrics. Every guitarist bends strings differently, moves across the fretboard with unique muscle memory, and channels emotion in a way no one else can replicate. That individuality used to be celebrated.
So how do we return to that kind of artistry? How do we bring back the poetry and emotional depth music once had?
Streaming has given us access to millions of songs, yet paradoxically, we hear fewer truly diverse voices. There’s simply too much content to sort through. We often only discover music if someone recommends it, or if an algorithm does. And algorithms tend to prioritize what sells, not necessarily what moves us. There may be incredible music out there that we would love, but we never encounter it.
I also miss the era of analog recording. When music became fully digital, something changed. Analog recordings had a certain warmth and imperfection that felt human. Today, many songs seem shorter and more formulaic, often focused on trends, gossip, or shock value rather than storytelling and substance. Of course, there are still talented songwriters creating meaningful work. But too often, the industry seems driven by patterns designed to maximize streams rather than artistic expression.
That’s why I intentionally explore lesser-known artists on streaming platforms. Some of the most powerful songwriting I’ve found comes from musicians with very few followers and minimal promotion. They’re creating music the old-fashioned way, with depth, craft, and heart. The quality is there, even if the spotlight isn’t. Unfortunately, without significant marketing budgets, many of these artists may never receive the attention they deserve.
So how do we change the direction music is heading? How do we support artistry over profit?
Maybe it starts with us. We can dig deeper into streaming catalogs. Take chances on artists we’ve never heard of. Discover someone on TikTok and explore their full body of work on Spotify. Add songs to playlists if they resonate. Share independent artists with others. Small actions can shift attention in meaningful ways.
If you’ve discovered a hidden gem, share it. If you’re an independent artist, put your work out there. Supporting one another might be the first step toward bringing music back to something more artistic, more emotional, and more about the craft than the dollar.
Coffee & a Playlist 
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