The Evolution and Simplification of Today’s Music: A Thorough Analysis

Recent trends in music have sparked a wave of debate and criticism, with many asserting that contemporary music has undergone significant changes, particularly in terms of lyrical complexity and musical structure. This article delves into these changes, providing detailed insights and references to academic studies that support the claim that today’s music has indeed become ‘dumbed down.’

Introduction to Music Simplification

The short answer to what has happened to today’s music is that it has become simpler, less rich, and more accessible—essentially, it has been 'dumbed down.' This trend is evident in several studies and observations regarding the music market and production processes.

Shorter and Louder: The Changing Musical Landscape

One significant factor contributing to the simplification of music is the increasing accessibility of music and the fierce competition among artists and producers. A study by Michael Varnum and his team from Arizona State University found that between 1958 and 2016, songs became simpler and louder as competition in the music market increased. This study utilized a statistical model known as ARIMA and an index of novel song choices as an exogenous predictor, showing the changes in lyrical compressibility over time.

Visual Evidence: Fig. 1 - Change in Lyrical Compressibility

The following graph illustrates the increase in lyrical compressibility and the forecast for future lyrical compressibility based on music production:

Fig 1. Change in lyrical compressibility along with a music production-based forecast for future lyrical compressibility from regression with ARIMA 100 and index of novel song choices as an exogenous predictor. Light purple indicates 95% confidence bands, dark purple indicates 80% confidence bands. Source: Michael Varnum et al.

Changing Linguistic Content in Popular Music

Another aspect of music that has changed is the linguistic content. A study on popular songs from 1980 to 2007 revealed a trend towards increased use of words related to self-focus and antisocial behavior, while words related to positive emotions and social interactions decreased. This reflects a broader psychological change in society, as noted by the researchers.

Computational Analysis: Simplified Lyrics in Pop Music

Recent computational analyses have further confirmed that the linguistic content of popular music has indeed become simpler. Eva Zangerle and her team at the University of Innsbruck examined a total of 353,329 English-language lyrics from publicly accessible databases such as Genius and LFM-2b. They evaluated parameters such as text length, grammatical complexity, the occurrence of complex words, rhymes, and repetitions. The results showed that the texts of pop music have become simpler and easier to understand over time.

Key Findings from the Computational Analysis

1. **Repetitions:** There are significantly more repetitions in modern pop lyrics compared to previous decades.

2. **Emotional Shift:** The texts have become more negative and personal over the past five decades. Taylor Swift and similar artists illustrate this trend.

3. **Anger and Emotionality:** Across all musical styles, there is an increase in anger and negative emotions, with rap and rock showing little variety in word choice, even using multi-syllabic words more often. RB, pop, and country are particularly negative emotionally, while rappers occasionally express positivity.

The Role of Beat and Structure in Contemporary Music

The simplification of music is not just about lyrics; it also extends to the beats and structures. For instance, much of rap and RB uses a 4/4 quarter time, echoing military march music. March music is used for drills to achieve unison in movement and mindset, relying heavily on repetition without lyrical content. In these genres, the dominant driver is the beat, which effectively synchronizes crowds but sacrifices musicality.

In conclusion, the changes in today’s music, particularly its simplification, are well-documented and supported by academic research. Whether seen as a result of modern production techniques or as simply a response to consumer preferences, the evolution of music toward simpler structures and lyrics is an ongoing debate in the music industry.