Pop music has gotten sadder over the last 50 years

Analysis of 20,186 songs from the Billboard Top 100 indicates that the lyrics are also more simple. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Debating the merits of today's popular music versus the hits of the past is largely a matter of taste. But regardless of your opinion on the subject, one thing is clear: pop music is objectively darker and more stressful than ever. The compelling statistics are laid out in a study by University of Vienna psychologists recently published in the journal .