I wasn't even around in the 60s but I defer to the experts on this:
https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/music/rap-rock-and-all-that-jazz-which-decade-had-the-best-music-1.1564376108517#:~:text=The 60s,was in its purest forms.
*this is obviously somewhat subjective based on what kind of music one is exposed to, but there has to be some objective metric in terms of music's influence on society.
The 60s
Hardcore music lovers will argue that the 60s were the best decade in musical history. It was in the early 60s when rock music was in its purest forms. As the decade neared its end, the pure rock was muddled with psychedelic rock, blues-rock, and folk rock, which had grown in popularity as the decade progressed.
John Lennon was once quoted saying “The thing the sixties did was to show us the possibilities and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn't the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibility.” The music industry really started to properly form, at that time. There was less segregation determining who could sing what. The sixties was a time of excitement in the music scene. The lyrics started becoming more experimental and expressive. Songs were more thought provoking, and tackled social issues, rather than just asking how much a doggie in the window was. And artists like The Beatles helped many see through the tough times.
another nod to the 60s
https://www.nme.com/news/music/this-is-the-best-decade-for-pop-music-according-to-science-2467655
https://www.smoothradio.com/news/music/best-decade-pop-music/
These are all quoting this study
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0210066