The Evolution of music
Hit songs and the societies that created them
Music acts as a cultural mirror, reflecting societal changes, emotional landscapes, and technological advancements. This report examines 15,000 songs from 1920 to 2023, exploring the interplay between genres, acoustic attributes, and historical events. Analyzing shifts in music over time uncovers how cultural movements—from the rise of rock in the 1960s to EDM's dominance in the 2010s—shaped listener preferences and the evolution of sound.
Key Findings
Drivers of Popularity: Attributes like danceability, energy, and valence consistently influence a song's success, reflecting listeners' emotional and rhythmic preferences across decades.
Shifts in Attributes and Moods: Musical attributes evolve to mirror societal contexts and emotions, from reflective tones during the Great Depression to the high-energy beats of festival culture in the 2010s.
Genre Evolution: Genres adapt by integrating emerging trends, with pop maintainingvdominance through flexibility, while hip-hop and EDM define distinct cultural eras.
Technology’s Role: Advancements in production, streaming, and distribution have shifted the landscape, allowing for greater diversity in genres and redefining what makes music popular.