Music Has Got Nastier Since the 60s, Study Says
Summary
A study from Queen Mary University of London analyzed over 380,000 English songs from 1960 to 2023 and found that popular music lyrics have become more negative over time. The research shows that songs now mention bad behavior more often and good behavior less often, reflecting changes in society’s values.Key Facts
- Researchers studied songs from 1960 to 2023 using two big music databases, including Billboard charts.
- Lyrics about harmful actions, cheating, and degradation have increased.
- Lyrics about positive morals like care and decency have decreased.
- Metal music often includes themes of harm and degradation.
- Female artists’ songs tend to have more themes of care and loyalty.
- Male or mixed-gender groups more often have lyrics about conflict and negativity.
- The study used artificial intelligence to analyze the words in the songs.
- The researchers say music reflects changes in culture and social values over time.
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