Study Tracks Mood of 38,467 Songs by 230 Artists

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentMichigan State researchers fed thirty-eight thousand four hundred sixty-seven songs by two hundred thirty artists through a word counter, and positive emotions declined, the Daily Wire reports.

2. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSorry, a word counter listened to music? How does that work?

3. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIt doesn't listen. It reads the lyrics and sorts words into piles like positivity, sadness, anger and anxiety.

4. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentInside artists' careers, sadness words fell and anxiety words rose.

5. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo the songs aren't sadder, they're simply more forward-looking. I'd call that a pivot from heartbreak to proactive concern.

6. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThe researchers also say the program can't detect sarcasm or irony. So every joke in a lyric got filed as a feeling.

7. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorRated: a mixed result with strong engagement. Hashtag, Kenji?

8. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentAnxietyhits. It's the only genre with a rising word count.