Has pop music gotten happier or sadder?

By Stephen Beech

Pop songs have become more negative over the last 50 years, according to a new study.

Researchers found that the lyrics to hit tunes have also become simpler and contain more stress-related words.

The findings reflect the "complex" ways people use music to navigate stress, suggests the study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Dr. Maurício Martins and his colleagues analyzed the lyrics of the top 100 most popular English-language songs in the United States each week between 1973 and 2023, according to the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Analysis of the 20,186 songs showed that, in general, lyrics have become simpler and more negative over time and contain more stress-related words.

The team say the trend has coincided with increasing rates of depression and anxiety and with increases in the negativity of media and fiction books reported in previously published research.

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However, the researchers also found that the popularity of songs with more complex lyrics began to increase from 2016 onwards.

When assessing potential factors influencing changes in listener lyric preferences, the researchers did not identify associations with changes in average household income.

But they did identify some associations with major stressful events - such as the 9/11 terror attacks and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Martins, of the University of Vienna, Austria, said: "These events were associated with lyrics becoming more complex and positive and containing fewer stress-related words, or with no significant changes in lyrics."

The research team say it could be due to more positive and complex music being used as a "form of escapism" during stressful periods.

Dr. Martins added: "The findings highlight the role of music in both shaping and reflecting moods over time."

He said further research is needed to investigate the reasons the popularity of songs with more complex lyrics began to increase from 2016 onwards.