What does science say about modern pop music?
The idea that contemporary pop music may not measure up to its predecessors is a commonly held and shared opinion. Whether accurate or not, numerous music enthusiasts argue that the genre has seemingly dulled, echoing the age-old sentiment, “They don’t make ’em like this anymore”. Interestingly, this sentiment isn’t unique to the present; similar assertions cropped up in the 1950s, the 1960s, and beyond. So, what happens when science enters the equation? Is there any substance to these claims?
In 2012, researchers E. Glenn Schellenberg and Christian von Scheve delved into two pivotal aspects of popular hit songs, examining the tempo, which denotes the speed of the backbeat, and whether the song was composed in a major or minor key. As a general guideline, music composed in a major key typically imparts a happier tone, while songs in a minor key often evoke a sense of sadness.
However, a song incorporating more major keys isn’t a true indicator of the emotion a song evokes, but the study found that tracks, in general, have gotten sadder and slower in recent years, with public taste gearing more towards more minor key songs with a slow tempo. According to the patterns they identified, pop music now has “a progressive increase of mixed emotional cues”.
A significant step forward in identifying scientific patterns in pop music came when the Spanish National Research Council enlisted the help of an artificial intelligence specialist, Joan Serrà, who examined nearly 500,000 pop songs between 1955 and 2010. Looking at their tonal, melodic and lyrical content, they concluded that pop has become less complex, using fewer chord changes, and that pop recordings are mastered to sound considerably louder.
Although many musical movements in history have been triggered or catalysed by political unrest, one study suggests that music has become angrier, adding that pop music allows listeners to gain insight into the cultural mindset of the time. A growing sense of social conflict may become clearer within charting pop music at any given time, which is understandable when you consider the rising popularity of Eminem during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The repetitive nature of pop music is also a well-established characteristic. In reality, many popular songs initially gain their appeal because they follow a particular structure that makes them catchy and easy to predict. This isn’t necessarily a negative thing; it’s simply a tradition that pop music often adheres to.
Repetition and consistency are favourable for the human mind, and music serves as a powerful medium to fulfil this desire for familiarity. Numerous studies conducted over the years have indicated that pop music is becoming more repetitive than ever. However, this trend might be attributed to various factors, like the resurgence of club and dance music, which could drive the need for recurring hooks that are crucial for achieving success in these genres.
So, is pop music better or worse than it once was? In short, it’s neither, as musical preferences are inherently subjective. Nevertheless, when analysed through a scientific lens, the evidence indicates that pop music has simply evolved to align with the contemporary era. In essence, fans are more inclined to acknowledge their individual musical tastes, whether those preferences lean towards classic artists like The Beatles or modern talents like Rina Sawayama. While we can identify technological, societal, and political factors that have influenced the evolution of music over the years, making an objective assessment of its value remains a complex and seemingly unattainable endeavour.
