UCI researchers study the secrets to pop music success

UCI’s Natalia Komarova and a team of researchers analyzed more than half a million songs released in Britain between 1985 and 2015 to understand the dynamics of pop music success. Their key finding? Upbeat songs by female singers dominate the charts, yet music overall is getting sadder.

Jennie Brewton /UCI

“Interestingly, successful songs exhibit their own distinct behavior: They tend to be happier, more partylike, less relaxed and more likely to be sung by a woman than most,” says Komarova, a UCI mathematician and evolutionary biologist.

Her study racked up dozens of mentions in the news media, ranging from The Economist to W magazine.

“Music matters. Our study shows that,” says Komarova, whose group used a dozen musical indicators to predict with an accuracy rate of 75 percent to 85 percent which songs would be hits.

Scientific American

Computers Predict Pop Chart Success

W magazine

Pop Music Is Much Sadder Now, Actually Reflects Reality According to New Study

Mashable

There's more tears left to cry: Researchers say pop music has been getting sadder

The Economist

What makes good music?

The Los Angeles Times

Computers crack the code of pop-song success: It helps to be 'happy' and 'female'

IFL Science

You're Not Imagining Things - Pop Songs Really Are Getting Sadder

Newsweek

How does music evolve? Researchers find that pop hits are happier, more danceable

Want to hear more? Listen to playlists inspired by the study.

Top dance hits

Sad songs of ‘14

Happy 80s Hits

More UCI News: https://news.uci.edu/