Tougher Economic Climate Promotes Tougher Music

According to a new investigation of music listening habits in the United States for the past 50 years, tougher economic times make people more likely to listen to tougher artists and songs. On the other hand, whenever the financial situation improves and people have the means necessary to live their lives without worry, the general population appears to prefer cheesier pop songs. The new survey was conducted by Coastal Carolina University psychologist and lead researcher Terry F. Pettijohn.

If the new investigation is correct, then we could expect to see a wave of happier, more optimistic, and a lot more “sensitive” music. Many analysts believe the first signs that the nation is exiting the deep state of recession it has been in for the past two years or so are beginning to emerge. During these hard times, millions of Americans have lost their jobs, their insurances, or their homes and so on. Now, as the economy is slowly beginning to recover, the situation is bound to improve for these people as well.

Initially, the studies that had been conducted were published last year, but Pettijohn says that it's only now that they are beginning to show some relevance. He explains that economic swings have influenced the musical tastes of the general population in the past as well. In addition to affecting album sales directly, due to a widespread lack of money, economic crisis also influence the genre of music people listen to. Even those who generally only listen to popular tunes tend to indulge in darker or tougher songs from time to time during times of recession. “Sometimes we are going to want to escape, but for the most part we want to delve into what we are experiencing,” the expert told LiveScience last week.

He also added that there was a general trend in the population for people to turn to more meaningful songs and lyrics for comfort during time of need. Whenever hardships and uncertainties loom over, most turn to songs that focus on words such as “we” and “us,” rather than the usual “I.” “We also have a greater need to affiliate  a desire to be with other people,” said Lpettijohn. Many also want to know how others got over the same problems, and so they listen to songs that deal with these complex issues, rather than the usual diamonds-cars-girls routine.