Millennial Man's Theory on Why Club Culture Is Fading With Gen Z Goes Viral

Newsweek

28-04-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Darrell Hester, a 30-year-old content creator from Georgia, never expected his musings on Gen Z nightlife to spark a cultural debate among viewers online.
After sharing his theory on Instagram on April 11, the millennial's take on the decline of club culture among Gen Z has gone viral, prompting widespread discussion on the topic along with the style and sound of the early 2010s while "recession pop" and "recession indicators" continue to trend online.
"My video about 'recession pop' and its effects on millennial club culture was birthed from an online dialog regarding Gen Z and the death of their current club culture," Hester told Newsweek. "I grew up as a teenager during the Great Recession of '08 and remember how different the music was.
"It was geared towards ignoring our outside problems and lack of money to focus solely on partying and having a good time."
In the Instagram video, posted under @song_theory_, Hester explained that club culture did not die because of Gen Zers and their attachment to phones and social media. Instead, he attributed the shift to changes in the music that is now trending itself.
"Recession pop," as he described it, was a subgenre of upbeat, escapist music made during the years of financial hardship between 2007 and 2013. Songs by artists like LMFAO, Pitbull and the Black Eyed Peas provided people with an outlet for joy and release during economically bleak times.
"These artists and groups made music designed for us to forget, making our club culture more vibrant and exciting," Hester said. "Gen Z, on the other hand, have not grown up with this music encouraging them to seek pleasure through partying and ignoring their financial woes."
The phenomenon of declining club attendance among Gen Z is reflected in broader data, as well as social media discussion.
From left: Darrell Hester speaks in an Instagram video; and poses for a headshot.
From left: Darrell Hester speaks in an Instagram video; and poses for a headshot.
song_theory_
A 2022 survey by Keep Hush, which polled 1,165 respondents from both Gen Z and millennial generations, found that Gen Z is going out less than previous generations are. The survey revealed that just 25 percent of Gen Zers were "still interested" in clubbing.
Another survey, conducted by Obsurvant on behalf of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) found that 61 percent of 2,001 U.K. residents aged 18-30 reported going out less frequently than the previous year, while only 16 percent said they go out past 10 p.m. more often than they did in 2024.
The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the trend, with venues closing, habits shifting to digital entertainment, and a general cultural pivot away from clubbing and towards wellness pursuits as a central social activity. In the U.K., more than 400 pubs closed their doors permanently in 2024, citing rising rental costs and lowered public interest.
In his viral video, Hester suggested that the decline in clubbing is down to today's music, which encourages Gen Z to project an image of unattainable wealth, leading to self-consciousness at clubs.
"No one wants to dance in fear of looking 'lame' or 'corny,' no fun can be had because they have to maintain the illusion of coolness," he said.
He also pointed to the economics of clubbing itself.
"Yes, bottle service and section pricing has also played a huge role in the destruction of Gen Z club culture," Hester said. "But the truth is, music is the life and heartbeat of any club scene.
"Therefore, theoretically, if the music doesn't provide that escape, the club becomes an extension of an already fake and empty world that many Gen Zers are afflicted by every day."
As the conversation continued to gain momentum online, many commenters agreed with Hester's assessment. Others have disagreed or expanded the discussion, adding that financial precarity, mental health struggles, and rising costs of living have shaped Gen Z's social habits differently than previous generations.
"Sections, overpricing drinks, and yes social media a little bit killed club culture," one viewer commented, while another added: "Gen Zers are too busy trying to look nonchalant to party."
"So true as a kid in the 2000s when my dad side of the family got together we used to turn the music up loud to dance n act like we had a club even though we wasn't old enough to go to the we had a club at my uncle house," another said.
"Yes, music today isn't for dancing anymore," another added. "There's exceptions of course I've seen this a lot. Theme nights for specific genres like an 80s night for example have become very popular compared to just going to a random club."
"Nope. That doesn't speak to prior to the recession at all. Just ask us all different millennials," another said.
Despite the lively debate, for Hester, the heart of the matter remains simple: music once offered a lifeline away from reality—now, it reinforces the pressures of an already stressed generation.