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115 Popular Music Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Music has always been a powerful form of expression, and popular music in particular has the ability to shape culture and society. If you are tasked with writing an essay on popular music, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer number of topics to choose from. To help you narrow down your options and get started on your essay, here are 115 popular music essay topic ideas and examples.

• The impact of social media on the music industry
• The evolution of music streaming services
• The role of women in the music industry
• The influence of technology on music production
• The rise of K-pop in the global music market
• The impact of the internet on music distribution
• The role of music in political movements
• The portrayal of race and ethnicity in popular music
• The influence of music on fashion trends
• The role of music in advertising
• The impact of music festivals on local economies
• The relationship between music and mental health
• The evolution of music videos
• The influence of popular music on language and slang
• The role of social justice in popular music
• The impact of music streaming on album sales
• The rise of TikTok as a platform for discovering new music
• The influence of popular music on youth culture
• The role of music in shaping identity
• The impact of music piracy on the music industry
• The portrayal of gender in popular music
• The role of music in shaping societal norms
• The influence of popular music on political campaigns
• The evolution of music genres
• The impact of music awards shows on the industry
• The relationship between music and nostalgia
• The role of music in protest movements
• The influence of popular music on film and television
• The portrayal of love and relationships in popular music
• The impact of social media influencers on music trends
• The evolution of music marketing strategies
• The role of music in cultural appropriation
• The influence of popular music on fashion trends
• The impact of music festivals on tourism
• The relationship between music and dance
• The role of music in shaping generational identities
• The influence of popular music on consumer behavior
• The portrayal of masculinity in popular music
• The impact of music education on academic achievement
• The evolution of music production techniques
• The role of music in branding and advertising
• The influence of popular music on language and communication
• The impact of music streaming on artist royalties
• The relationship between music and emotion
• The role of music in social movements
• The influence of popular music on body image
• The portrayal of sexuality in popular music
• The impact of music festivals on environmental sustainability
• The evolution of music journalism
• The role of music in cultural diplomacy
• The impact of music videos on artist visibility
• The relationship between music and memory
• The role of music in shaping cultural identity
• The influence of popular music on social media trends
• The portrayal of mental health in popular music
• The impact of music festivals on local communities
• The evolution of music distribution platforms
• The role of music in shaping political ideologies
• The influence of popular music on social justice movements
• The impact of music streaming on artist discovery
• The relationship between music and technology
• The role of music in healing and therapy
• The influence of popular music on consumer trends
• The portrayal of race and ethnicity in music videos
• The impact of music festivals on artist careers
• The evolution of music criticism
• The role of music in cultural assimilation
• The influence of popular music on social norms
• The impact of music education on creativity
• The relationship between music and spirituality
• The role of music in storytelling
• The influence of popular music on political discourse
• The portrayal of gender identity in popular music
• The role of music in cultural preservation
• The portrayal of love and relationships in music videos
• The impact of music streaming on artist exposure
• The role of music in shaping social movements
• The influence of popular music on body positivity
• The evolution of music journalism in the digital age
• The role of music in shaping cultural identities
• The portrayal of mental health in music lyrics

These popular music essay topic ideas and examples should help you get started on your essay and explore the diverse and fascinating world of popular music. Whether you are interested in the impact of technology on the music industry, the portrayal of social issues in music, or the role of music in shaping cultural identities, there is a topic for everyone in the world of popular music. Happy writing!

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267 Music Essay Topics + Writing Guide [2024 Update]

Your mood leaves a lot to be desired. Everything around you is getting on your nerves. But still, there’s one thing that may save you: music. Just think of all the times you turned on your favorite song, and it lifted your spirits!

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

So, why not write about it in a music essay? In this article, you’ll find all the information necessary for this type of assignment:

• 267 brilliant music essay topics,
• a sample paper,
• a step-by-step guide and writing tips.

And don’t forget to bookmark  custom-writing.org  where you can find helpful essay tips in articles like this one.

🔝 Music Essay Topics: Top 10

• 🎵 Music Essay Definition
• 🎼 Essay Topics
• ✍️ How to Write
• 📑 Essay Sample

🔗 References

• Compare different recording formats.
• The purpose of music.
• Ternary and rondo: compare and contrast.
• Music as a lifestyle.
• The benefits of singing.
• Ethnomusicology as a career.
• Evolution of the radio.
• The importance of school musicals.
• Music as a tool for meditation.
• Music in sports.

🎵 Essays about Music: What Are They?

A music essay describes or analyzes a piece of music, its context, or one’s personal attitude towards it. This type of assignment requires a compelling primary argument and a clear structure.

To write well about music, you don’t have to be a professional musician. All you need is to be able to listen, understand, and evaluate it. You should also provide your interpretation and opinion on it.

Writing about Music: Assignment Types

An essay on music is a popular assignment in high school and college. However, many students find it hard to describe sounds in a written form. In this article, we will give you some tips on writing about music.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

Here are the typical tasks that you might receive:

• Concert report. It requires describing the music you’ve heard using as many details and terms as you can.
• Historical analysis of a piece. Your aim is to describe the historical context of a piece or its relation to the historical setting. For this type of assignment, you may need to do some research.
• Song analysis. In this type of essay, you explore song lyrics’ meaning and show how they work together with the melody.
• Performance or media comparison. Here you need to compare several interpretations or performances of one piece of music.

All of these assignments require a different approach and topic. You will find topics for these types of tasks below.

How to Choose a Music Essay Topic

First things first, you need to find a suitable music essay topic. To accomplish this task, you might want to take the following steps:

• Analyze your relationship with music . What role does it play in your life? Your topic choice will be different if you are a musician or merely a listener.
• Think about how music influences your everyday life . For instance, you can study how listening to music affects our mental health. Impressing your readers with some historical facts from the world of music is also a great idea.
• Try reflecting on the role of different music genres in your life . Whether you prefer rap or classical music, exploring a genre is an excellent topic idea. Topics related to musical instruments are also worth attention.
• Narrow your topic down. Otherwise, it will be too difficult to focus your essay on just one idea.

🎼 Music Essay Topics List

The first thing you need to do is to choose your topic. We have prepared a variety of music topics perfect for research papers and short essays. You can also use them for speeches or college application essays.

Argumentative Essay about Music: Topics & Ideas

Argumentative essays about music are usually concerned with a specific music-related issue you choose to address. Just like with any other argumentative essay, you should present both sides of the topic. Also, reliable facts are a must for this type of essay.

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• The influence of modern technologies on the music industry. Technologies allow artists to create and promote their songs independently. Because of this, record labels are less critical to musicians than before. However, the emergence of new technologies also gave rise to piracy . Do the positives outweigh the negatives?
• What’s the effect of pop music on the modern generation? Today’s pop songs are usually commercial . Because of this, some people say that pop has ruined the current generations’ perception of music. Others argue that contemporary pop music expanded the possibilities of the genre.
• Rock music makes people more aggressive . Some consider rock music merely an arrangement of aggressive tunes that foster violence. On the counter side, science has proven that people who prefer rock to other genres are calmer and more concentrated. Which position do you agree with?
• Can people with hearing impairments become famous musicians ? Many believe that access to fame and fortune is limited for disabled people. The deaf may seem especially unsuited for the music business . Yet, the examples of Beethoven, Neil Young, and Chris Martin show that hearing problems don’t have to be an issue.
• Will streaming completely substitute physical copies? Digitalization is on its way to replacing LPs and CDs. For most people, it’s simply more convenient. But their opponents claim that an MP3 file can never sound as good as a physical copy.
• Some music genres can be a catalyst for violence. While their beats may be calm, hip-hop and rap’s lyrics are often aggressive and brutal. Does it have adverse effects on a listener?
• Can a person become addicted to music ?
• Censorship on the radio: why stations shouldn’t bleep out obscenities.
• Is mandatory musical education in high schools practical?
• The impact of Mozart’s music on toddlers.
• Should a musician’s personal life affect people’s perception of their art?
• How susceptible are teenagers to political messages in songs?
• Music influences one’s mental and physical capabilities .
• Are children who listen to music more intelligent than others?
• Music genres are inherently dependent on musical instruments .
• Is music as an art form more popular than cinema ?
• Debate whether rap musicians promote a frivolous and careless lifestyle .
• Many musicians became famous only because they’ve had connections.
• Music festivals are the best form of entertainment.
• Does music always sound better live than on records?
• Is classical music better than modern genres?
• Is it justified that some religions view music as a sin?
• Typically, music defines a culture and its traditions: true or false?
• Rap music has a strong connection to rebellious movements.
• Jamaican music’s link to the stoner lifestyle is unjustified.
• Synesthesia: how is music related to visuals?

Opinion on Music: Essay Topics

Opinion essays about music might seem similar to the argumentative type. Here, you are expected to write your personal opinion on a topic. Naturally, you can have many opinions on musical topics. Why not broadcast them? Keep in mind that you also need to provide reasons for your point of view.

• Music therapy can help people with mental illnesses . It’s a well-known fact that music affects the human brain. This ability makes it perfect for treating mental health problems. On the one hand, psychologists established that listening to classical music increases one’s cognitive capacity . On the other hand, listening to heavy rock impacts responsiveness.
• The questionable treatment of women in the music industry . While it may seem that both sexes are treated equally, women still earn much less than they deserve. Moreover, the extreme sexualization of girls persists as one of the most pressing problems in the industry.
• Which musician or band impacted your worldview ? Discuss what makes your favorite artist special. Consider analyzing their lyrics, genre, and evolution. If you want to, add a review of one of their albums .
• What are the challenges of being an independent artist? Typically, independent artists deal with all the financial, promotional, and distributional affairs by themselves. In the increasingly complex music business, this is not an easy task.
• Is social media efficient for promotion? Almost every modern artist uses social media to promote their albums or songs. Users often check their networks for updates, which increases the musician’s visibility. But do such methods help in the long run?
• Passion is the essential personal quality for every musician . If an artist is not eager to continually produce high-quality output, they’re unlikely to succeed. However, qualities such as responsibility, honesty, hard work, and creativity are also vital.
• Is music good for stress relief?
• How does music connect people ?
• Analyze qualities that good musicians shouldn’t have.
• Who are the most excellent musicians in the country genre ?
• Is it possible to live without interacting with music ?
• Choose three successful rappers and analyze their influence.
• How can a musician become famous without having money or connections?
• What are the difficulties of being in a band ?
• Who impacted the development of indie music the most?
• Is pop music losing its popularity? If so, why?
• Three factors that affected your choice of a favorite genre .
• Which artists are the most prominent in power metal?
• Which record label is the most influential now?
• Can Justin Bieber’s songs be considered legendary?
• Did Kanye West introduce a new kind of rap?
• Which rock bands lost their fame because of a scandal ? How did it happen?
• Discuss Dire Straits’ impact on music history .
• Who are currently the most successful women pop singers ?
• Why are some music genres more popular than others?
• What does success in the music world depend on ?

Topics for a Persuasive Essay about Music

Is there anything music-related you want to convince people of? A persuasive paper is your chance. Carefully craft your arguments to show your readers you’ve always been right about the beauty of cowbells. If it’s not your jam, consider these essay topics about music:

• A seven-string guitar is superior to a six-string one. The additional string gives more room for creativity. It might be challenging to master, but in the end, the music has a fuller sound . Do you think it’s worth the effort?
• The lyrics don’t matter as long as the melody is good. It’s possible to like songs from different countries, even if the listener doesn’t understand the language. The singing is simply part of the composition. Does this mean that what the vocalist says is unimportant?

• Most people living in big cities neglect country music. People from urban areas tend to think that country music is tasteless. For them, its tunes and lyrics sound too simple. Does the strong association with cowboys, farms, and long roads simply not appeal to the city lifestyle?
• Should rap music be performed only by black people ? The genre hosts a large portion of African American artists . Not only that, but black rappers are widely considered the best of their craft. Do white artists do the genre justice?
• Music that artists make merely to get money is soulless. Passion is a critical factor for every musician. If money is the primary driver for creating a song , the result is inevitably flawed. Do you agree?
• Pop music is undergoing a transformation. Listeners acknowledge pop as the primary genre of contemporary music . Yet, new musical instruments are changing the game. Even the lyrics touch on more serious topics than before.
• Indie is the new pop. Indie music is a relatively novel genre. Still, it continues to gain popularity. The light-hearted tunes paired with existential lyrics have captured the audience’s hearts. Is it possible to envision the future of music without bands such as Coldplay, The 1975, and the Arctic Monkeys?
• The meaning of freedom for jazz as a musical genre .
• Punk rock has recently witnessed a renaissance.
• Exposing plants to classical music makes them grow faster.
• Classical music: intellectually stimulating or relaxing ?
• Is it justified that some countries legally prohibit artists from performing?
• Is it easier for children to learn with music?
• Can a person ever become a great artist without a natural talent ?
• Should workplaces allow their employees to listen to background music ?
• Jimi Hendrix’s guitar skills are still unmatched.
• The impact of pop music on European culture and trends.
• Kurt Cobain’s death should have been a wake-up call for the music industry .
• Why is music beneficial to society?
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s legacy can be felt even today.
• Nintendocore is a legitimate genre that the industry should take more seriously.
• Should you listen to a bands’ music even if you disagree with their opinions ?
• Musicians should receive more government support.
• Patriotic songs make people feel passionate and energetic about their country.
• Depressive and sad tunes can worsen a person’s mood.
• Doctors and therapists need to understand the importance of music .

Music Evaluation Essay Topics

Do you want to know how to evaluate music? The point is to divide your overall impression into several parts. Music evaluation requires much attention and concentration, so try to do your best to stay focused while listening.

Use these criteria for evaluating music performances:

Now all you need to do is choose a topic and get down to writing!

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

• Discuss the rise and fall of hardcore punk. Many bands that started in the hardcore punk scene softened their sound over time. Why did this genre disappear from the mainstream?
• Copyright laws are going too far . It’s getting increasingly difficult to use somebody else’s intellectual property. Creators on YouTube have to fear lawsuits for creatively repurposing copyrighted music. Moreover, laws such as the DMCA are frequently abused to generate revenues.
• More bands should use their influence for political purposes . Renowned artists have a broad reach. Bands like Rise Against or Anti Flag use this influence to raise political awareness among their fans. Is it a fair approach?
• Borrowing and plagiarism in contemporary music . New artists don’t emerge without having listened to other musicians. They draw inspiration from their predecessors. Thus, songs are always a mix of already existing tracks. In your essay, discuss the difference between homage and plagiarism.
• What are the similarities between poetry and song lyrics? Songs and poems are similar in that they deliver a message to the audience. Their creation demands extensive knowledge of rhyming, literary devices, and other components.
• Why do some musicians ask others to write lyrics for them? It is a common practice to have a crew of songwriters who create texts for performers. Sometimes it happens due to a lack of imagination or inspiration. Does finding out that your favorite artist doesn’t write their lyrics destroy the magic of their music?
• How can popular music diversify as a genre? Pop music reached its peak. Adding and borrowing elements from different genres can be one way to diversify a streamlined genre.
• The history of music as political propaganda .
• Explain the difference between high and low contemporary music culture .
• How is contemporary music related to that from other periods?
• What are the connections between pop music and the hip-hop genre?
• What connects popular music and contemporary culture ?
• How does music in the United States relate to Spanish music ?
• Analyze the evolution of Indian music .
• Discuss why certain albums manage to climb to the top of the charts.
• The link between social classes and musical genres.
• Differences and similarities of music and other art forms .
• How does a musical instrument’s origin influence its development?
• What is the role of traditional music today?

• What are the main processes in music production?
• How is music theory relevant today?
• Analyze which contemporary artists’ albums had an effect comparable to that of Queen’s A Night at the Opera .
• Eurodance: Europe’s most extravagant genre.
• Songs and everyday life of Michael Jackson vs. Madonna: who wins the ultimate pop crown?
• What difficulties has Eminem faced throughout his career?
• Over-ear headphones provide a better sound experience than on-ear ones.

Topics for an Expository Essay on Music

An expository essay explains or describes a subject. In the colorful world of music, topics can range from the physics of sound waves to artists’ social impact.

• The importance of Blues music in the late 19 th century and now . Blues originated in the 19 th century American South. It was an outlet for African Americans to express their sorrows. Later, it exceeded by far the cultural boundaries that confined it.
• The role of music in prison camps. Singing was an essential part of life in the Nazi concentration camps . One of the most well-known songs of that time is called Peat Bog Soldiers . In your expository essay, explore why prisoners started singing and how it developed.
• How did Chester Bennington’s death impact the music industry? Linkin Park was a giant in the business for decades until depression made their lead singer take his own life. The event sparked debates surrounding mental health and pressure in the creative industry. What long-lasting effects did these discussions have?
• How did Baroque music reflect the zeitgeist? Compared to the Renaissance period, Baroque was in all aspects very pompous. The artists of the Sun King’s time didn’t shy away from the extravaganza. This ideal is especially prominent in architecture. How does music fit into the picture?
• Investigate the development of musical harmony. The Ancient Greeks already had an idea of some tones fitting together better than others. However, it wasn’t until the 1600s that tonality became a crucial part of music theory.
• Music in commercials: an analysis. Songs and jingles are commonplace in TV commercials. But what are they good for? In your essay, you can compare the success of advertisements with and without music.
• What causes music trends to change? It’s easy to define various eras of music . Naturally, the invention of new instruments has influenced this development. What other factors played a role in these transformations?
• Why is 4/4 a universal beat?
• Examine the origins of The Star-Spangled Banner .
• The effects of dissonance on the human mind .
• How do staccato, legato, and other forms of articulation influence the perception of a musical piece ?
• Discuss the significance of music in video games .
• Music drives people’s motivation.
• Explain the calming effects of nature sounds .
• How does music influence literature ?
• Celtic music is known to have an extraordinary impact on the psyche. How does it work?
• How does music impact the discharge of hormones such as dopamine?
• Music therapy is suitable for those who have bipolar disorder .
• What made Falco such a unique artist?
• How does the perception of a silent film differ from that of a movie with sound?
• A rock concert by Kansas: How the relevance of live concerts changed over time .
• Is being able to read music important for a composer ?
• How did Beethoven write music after losing his hearing?
• Should all songs have proper rhythm and structure?
• Why do so many indie artists become commercial?
• Is it essential for song lyrics to rhyme?

History of Music: Essay Topics

If you’re interested in the evolution of music, you’ve come to the right section. Historical research reveals the significance of music throughout time. Unsurprisingly, songs and melodies have been part of human culture for centuries. Dive deeper into this exciting subject with one of the following ideas:

• How did the Catholic Church influence music development in Europe? During the Middle Ages , religious movements had a significant impact on music. Consequently, composers used to create more sacred music. It became a way of personal expression since it often contained religious texts. 
• The cultural meaning of Renaissance music and its influence on other styles . During the time of the Renaissance , sacred and secular music heavily impacted each other. As a result, more variety emerged. The chanson and madrigal, for example, became popular around Europe.
• Research archaeological findings of early musicality. The search for the oldest musical instrument delivers thrilling insights. Archaeologists have excavated a flute made of ivory and bird bones, dating approximately 43,000 years ago. They found it in a cave in Germany where Neanderthals lived.
• History of early music and appearance of musical instruments. The beginning of the human culture was the turning point of musical instruments’ appearance. They were primarily used for spiritual rites; typically, they were horns or drums for ceremonies.
• Louis Armstrong’s contributions to the jazz world. Jazz originated in New Orleans and was a favorite among African Americans. Louis Armstrong’s improvisations forever changed the genre, making the soloist-improviser the center of the performance.
• The phenomenon of pop music and its origins. Popular music dates back to the second half of the last century. It comes from the US and the UK. Its main peculiarity lies in the variety of tunes and lyrics .
• Native American music before the discovery of the New World . Incas and Aztecs had particular styles of music. Findings show that these ancient civilizations used instruments for ceremonies. Researchers also discovered that various American cultures mingled, thus creating new techniques.
• The use of string instruments in classical Greek songwriting.
• Famous composers of 18th century Italy and their influence.
• Mozart vs. Beethoven: comparison of techniques.
• Deliver a thoughtful analysis of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony .
• What role do acoustic instruments play in jazz compositions ?
• Explore the history of the Ocarina.
• Due to what circumstances did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart become one of the greatest musical geniuses in history?
• Influence of the Romantic period on modern music .
• How and why were the swing era and jazz connected?
• Rock and roll as an international language in the 20th century.
• Explore the rise of techno music.
• Is there a historical connection between music and math ?
• How did music become a staple subject in many schools?
• The greatest musicians of World War I .
• Industrialization and its effect on music development.
• How did female producers such as Kate Bush impact the music industry ?
• Analyze Frédéric Chopin’s contribution to classical music .
• Music evolution in ancient Greece vs. the Roman Empire .
• How does archeology help to uncover musical traditions ?
• Tupac’s influence on modern rap music .

Classification Essay about Music: Topic Ideas

In a classification essay, you explain how a whole relates to parts or vice versa. To do it, you need to divide one broad category into several subcategories. Each classification paragraph focuses on one subcategory, so you need to find a key feature that will be your basis of division. For example, you can divide music by genre, volume, musical instruments, etc.

Here is our list of musical topics for this essay type:

• The most popular types of alternative music among teenagers. Naturally, teens like different kinds of rock and experimental music . Try to dig deeper and ask some teenagers about their preferences to get a clear picture.
• Types of modern dance music . Describe the tendencies and popular genres. You can also focus on a specific country.
• The most popular types of jazz music in Europe . Although jazz emerged in the United States, this genre became recognizable all over the world. You can analyze the most popular streamed songs, or the concerts and other mass events.
• Rock music in the ’70s. You can describe the genres, styles, or types of performers. The concerts, clothes, and lifestyles are also suitable for this topic.
• Blues musicians of different time periods. Analyze the lyrics, the musical instruments they used, and how long their careers lasted.
• Classification of music for children . Some of it can be for dancing, development, or just listening. Research the purposes of different kinds of music for children.
• Types of music used in films. The soundtrack is one of the main things we remember after watching a movie. There can be popular songs or tracks composed specifically for a film .
• Rock bands that represent different subgenres.
• Rap subgenres in the United States.
• Periods of classical music .
• What motivates people to start a musical career?
• Different kinds of music for relaxation.
• The industries where composers work .
• Types of opera singers and instrumental music .
• Different professions in the music industry .
• Unpopular genres of independent music.
• Different types of music listeners .

College Essay about Music: Topics

When you apply to your dream college, you need to write an impressive essay. Admissions officers pay attention not only to your grades and achievements but also to your personality. Your writing can indicate your motivation, academic interests, and how well you fit into the college. Writing an essay about “music in my life” is a great way to demonstrate your passion and creativity.

Choose one of these topics related to music for your college essay:

• The role of music in your life . Describe what music means to you, how often you listen to it, and how it helps you in life. For example, you can write about inspiration, motivation, or the sense of freedom that it gives you.
• What are the essential aspects of music for you? Try to write down everything you like about music. It might be melodies, lyrics, vocals, or mood. You can choose several aspects if you feel that you can’t decide.
• The time when music changed your life. In this essay, you can pick one occurrence or describe how music changed your life gradually. It’s important to indicate where you started from and where it led you.
• How do you see the future of the music industry? Demonstrate to the admissions officer how well you know the art and the business.
• Your role model in the music industry. You may write about the qualities of the person you admire and why you want to develop them in yourself. Remember that admission officers want to read about you, not your idol.
• How did your musical taste change over the last ten years? Describe the evolution of your preferences. Explain why you have changed some of your past choices. Do you think your musical taste has improved?
• Your favorite musical genre .
• Does listening to music help to heal body and spirit?
• What is the best music performance you have ever seen?
• Why do people become fans of particular musicians?
• Your favorite song lyrics .
• Can people be judged by their musical taste?
• Why is music an essential part of human culture?
• Quote about music that appeals to you the most.
• How can music education help you in the future?
• Do you prefer listening to music or performing it?
• How can music change your mood?
• Why you want to become a musician.
• Which culture has the most beautiful ethnical music ?
• Is music more of an art or business?
• What are the essential parts of musical education ?

Other Music Essay Topics

• Why do supermarkets play music? Think of the reasons why marketers use music in advertising and how it impacts customer behavior.
• An analysis of Robert Wise’s The Sound of Music . Evaluate how the director uses music to tell a story.
• The impact of music on the human brain . Examine the latest research in the mental health field and how music therapy affects depression treatments.
• The workings of the music industry . Assess how contemporary audio technology and touring lifestyle affect musicians.
• The role of music in different cultures. Choose and compare two countries to analyze their perspectives on the music industry.
• Music on television . Evaluate how the music of TV shows and movies impacts the audience’s feelings and behavior.
• Oliver Sacks’ contribution to music psychology. Explore the theories he discusses in Musicophilia and describe its influence on music psychology.
• Should all music be available for free download? Think about the ethical and legal aspects of this issue.
• How did music psychology help the development of music education ? Try to find a correlation between these two fields.
• Britney Spears and the adverse effects of teen popularity. Writing about this topic, you might want to focus on how her early fame affected her life. What happened after her famous breakdown in 2007?
• The half-life of one-hit-wonders. Focus your paper on quantitative research. How long do one-hit-wonders stay famous on average? Why do they fail to maintain their success?
• Journalism and the music industry. Examine the effects positive or negative press had on a musician of your choice.
• Festivals and sponsorship. Discuss the benefits that corporate sponsors and the creators of music festivals gain from working together.
• Rock songs and pessimistic lyrics. Why do most popular rock songs have such sad and angry lyrics?
• Discuss the development of your music taste. Write about what pushed you to change and how it influenced your life.
• The psychology of music. Examine what someone’s favorite music genre can tell about their personality.
• Is ASMR music? ASMR artists make quiet sounds to soothe their audience. But can we really consider it music?
• A historical analysis of jazz. Explore how African Americans influenced the flourishing culture of jazz that has spread worldwide.
• The effect of classical music on children’s cognitive abilities. Supposedly, classical music is great for kids. Study this theory and make your conclusions.
• Discuss the characteristics of modern Latin American music . Dive into its diversity and describe the reasons for its popularity.
• How do Chinese artists make traditional music? Write about its complex creation process. Analyze the importance of articulation for composers.
• The history of music . With this essay, explore the six periods of music history. To top it off, you can predict what music will be like in the future.
• The music industry goes online. Discuss the importance of the internet for the industry and the challenges associated with it.
• The magic of instrumental music. Pick your favorite orchestra pieces and find unique features in each of them.
• Musical education: the sound of success? Does everyone need a musical background?
• Explore the latest techniques in songwriting . Look into the song creation process of contemporary musicians. How do they get the audience to enjoy their art?
• Compare and contrast e-pianos and keyboards . In doing so, consider their structure, sound, and features.
• The Woodstock festival as a game-changer. How has the Woodstock Music and Art Fair influenced the current state of the music industry? Additionally, investigate how current festivals hold up to the standards set by Woodstock.
• Music therapy for stroke patients . Find out whether incorporating elements of music therapy can support the treatment of patients who suffered a stroke.
• How do amplifiers work? If you’re a musician, you’ve likely used an amplifier before. Now it’s time to figure out what they are actually doing.
• The Killers’ contributions to indie rock. How would you define their style of music? What makes them a key player in indie music?
• Analyze the music in Grease . Pick some of the most popular songs from the musical and write about their influence on American culture.
• What’s the best way to interpret songs? Describe methods to deconstruct songs and how the music style affects this process.
• Teufel vs. Sennheiser: the ultimate comparison. German sound equipment manufacturers are known for their cutting-edge technologies . But which brand is the best?
• What role does harmony play in music composition? Choose several pieces of music and describe how the artists used harmony.
• How necessary are double bass drums? Do musicians place them on stage just to impress people, or do they have actual use?
• Compare regular festivals and free ones. Why spend hundreds of dollars on Coachella if you can go to Woodstock for free? In your essay, focus on the differences such as size, participating artists, and general entertainment .
• A historical analysis of choral music. Singing in groups is a practice common across various cultures . You might choose one or two to work on.
• How did The Rolling Stones influence British culture? The Rolling Stones are one of the longest-standing rock bands of all time. Naturally, this left significant marks on their home country.
• How important are regional accents for English-language singers ? When working on this theoretical topic, include some examples and your personal opinion.
• The world of musical instruments: medieval music . This fun essay can focus on different types of medieval instruments and their evolution.
• Does the creative process differ for electronic and acoustic music? Look at how artists usually write songs. Do they start with the melody, the rhythm, or the lyrics? Does it depend on the medium?
• The correlation between poems and medieval songs. Find out how composers were reinventing poetry to create songs.
• Hip-hop and gender equality . What is the role of women in the development of this music style? Don’t forget to give examples.
• When politics interferes with art: Eurovision. Analyze the role of the political situation in this song contest. Is there anything left of its original idea?
• How did Vladimir Vysotsky become a beloved musical figure outside of Soviet Russia? It’s unusual for Russian-language musicians to gain fame outside of their home country. Research how Vysotsky managed to mingle in the USA and have some of his work posthumously released in Europe.
• K-pop conquers the world . You may narrow the topic down to a specific artist. Focus on the influence of Korean music in other cultures.
• Music school students vs. amateurs. Discuss the different experiences and outcomes of music school students and those who learn to play instruments at home.
• Do music choices shape one’s identity , or is it the other way around? It’s an exciting question that lets you dig deep into the psychology of music.
• The music of dissents. Energizing songs play an essential part in rebellions and revolutions. For example, analyze how protesters used music during the Arab Spring .
• The development and popularity of electronic music . Starting from the early experiments, analyze the development of this style and its increasing influence
• How do artists use social media to promote their music? You might want to choose one or two examples to illustrate the tools they use.
• Organum as one of the oldest written types of music . Study the development of this music style throughout various cultures.
• The appeal of Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters. Many people consider the song one of their favorites. Examine its structure , melody, and lyrics. What makes it unique?
• Africa’s hidden musical gems. African music is as diverse as its people. Pick two countries and compare their style. How do they differ from Western art ?
• Did people’s music tastes improve compared to previous decades? Here, you have the chance to express your views on the evolution of people’s music preferences.
• Is the life of pop stars as easy as people think? Share your thoughts on whether famous musicians and singers have a leisurely lifestyle.
• Physiological reactions to different types of music . Study how your body reacts to various beats and tones.
• Why do people tend to listen to specific songs on certain occasions? In your essay, ponder the effects of love songs or powerful anthems on one’s mood .
• What does someone’s ringtone say about their personality ? Think about how it affects your perception of a person.
• The impact of music on the individual’s productivity . Studies suggest a positive effect on people’s performance when they listen to something pleasant while working. But all the noise can get overstimulating. That’s why finding the balance is central.
• Music is natural. In the depth of nature, there is music. Rain, a bird’s song, or the tapping of a squirrel’s feet melt together to create a beautiful composition . Music is everywhere—one only needs to listen carefully.

If you haven’t found what you’re looking for, you’re welcome to use our topic generator .

✍️ Music Essay: How to Write

So, you have chosen your essay title. Now it’s time to start writing! But before you begin, read the sections below and learn how to organize your work.

How to Describe Music in Writing

You might think that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. Well, it is not an easy task, but we know how to cope with it.

Follow these tips while writing:

• Make a comparison.  Explain which characteristics of a piece remind you or are identical to those of another one. It’s better to avoid comparing music from different composers in this case. Instead, evaluate and analyze two musical pieces from the same composer.
• Describe the melody and dynamics.  You may want to use musical terms to show your knowledge and proficiency. Define the genre and what kind of instruments and tones are used.
• Explain how it makes you feel.  You can use basic human emotions to describe the feelings of a listener. For example, it can be anger, tenderness, irritation, excitement, or nostalgia.
• Use metaphorical language.  You may try using your imagination to create analogies. Be careful not to make your metaphors overcomplicated, as it may confuse the readers.

Essays about Music: Descriptive Words

Do you want your essay on music to be interesting and expressive? Then you may want to use descriptive vocabulary. Here are some of the terms that you can use in your essay to make it sound more professional:

• Tempo is the “speed” of music. There are fixed expressions to define tempo—for example, largo, moderate, or presto. You can also describe how fast the music feels.
• Timbre is the term that evaluates the “color” of music. Even if two instruments play the same note of the same volume, the sound is still different. This is how you can notice the color of the tone. For example, gentle, clear, heavy, or warm can be the adjectives to describe timbre.
• Dynamics define the volume levels of music. The volume can be the same all the time, for example loud or soft. If the volume of music changes, you can use such expressions as “gradually gets louder” “or suddenly becomes soft.”
• Harmony characterizes how all the notes and chords sound together. The sequence of chords—chord progression—defines how satisfying the melody is for the listener. For example, if the transitions are smooth, you can use such words as “relaxed” or “warm.”

Music Essay Outline

Like any other assignment, writing about music requires a proper essay outline that will guide you through the writing. The following sections will help you with that.

Before you start, here are some tips that will help you prepare for writing:

• Do some prior research. Try to learn as much as possible about the piece you will be writing about. It’s also helpful to listen to the music several times with headphones to notice more details.
• Don’t be afraid of asking questions. Consult your instructor if you’re unsure about your topic or the piece you have chosen.
• Choose the topic that you like. If you’re passionate about a subject, it is always easier to write about it. Who said that homework could not be interesting?
• Follow the recommendations that your instructor gives. It includes word limit, formatting style, deadline, and essay type.

Music Essay Introduction

The introduction is the section where you come up with a brief explanation of the topic. You may start it with a quotation, definition, or short statement that catches your reader’s attention and leads them to the essay subject.

A thesis statement is usually the last sentence of the introduction that defines the content of body paragraphs. It needs to be specific and not longer than two sentences. If you decide to shift the focus of your essay while writing, it’s crucial to change your thesis too.

Different types of essays require different thesis statements. Let’s take a closer look:

Music Essay Body

Your essay’s body is the most significant part of your writing. Here, you provide evidence and explanations of your claims.

The typical body paragraph structure includes:

• A topic sentence explaining the argument for a particular paragraph.
• An introduction to the evidence you gathered to support an argument.
• Quotes and facts (don’t forget about proper citation!) and their explanation.
• A connection between the evidence and the essay topic.
• Paragraph transitions  leading your reader to the next section.

Topic Sentence about Music

Topic sentences can be used as a roadmap to writing your essay. Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that defines what the paragraph is about. It introduces the argument or main thought that will be explained. It’s also connected with the thesis statement.

It’s essential to make your thesis easy to understand, so it’s better not to overcomplicate it. For example, here’s an unsuccessful topic sentence with unnecessary words:

As stated above, the guitar is an essential musical instrument in rock music that defines how it sounds.

Instead, you can formulate it like this:

The guitar is the most iconic musical instrument in rock music that defines how it sounds.

Music Essay Conclusion

When writing a conclusion for your essay on music, you can use the following structure:

• Summarize the text in a few sentences.
• Review the key points of your paper.
• Paraphrase the thesis.

To make your essay conclusion more effective, avoid the following:

📑 What Music Means to Me: Essay Example

Now you know all about writing an essay on music! To make it even easier for you, we’ve prepared an essay sample that you can use for inspiration. Check it out:

Now all you need is to turn the music on and get down to writing! We hope you liked this guide. If you did, don’t hesitate to share it with your friends.

Further reading:

• How to Write a Good Critique Paper: Killer Tips + Examples
• How to Write an Art Critique Essay: Guidelines and Examples
• How to Write a Movie Critique Paper: Top Tips + Example
• Modern Fairy Tale Essay: How to Write, Topics and Ideas
• 200 Creative Topics for Opinion Essays
• 182 Free Ideas for Argumentative or Persuasive Essay Topics
• 180 Excellent Evaluation Essay Topics

✏️ Music Essay FAQ

Music is a vast topic. An essay might deal with anything ranging from trends in the 1950s to the best guitarists of all time. Writing an introduction to certain music styles or bands is also possible. In any case, the paper should be well-structured, logical, and cohesive.

Writing about music doesn’t necessarily require any specific skills. If you’re not familiar with the theory of music and can’t play musical instruments, you can just write about the music you like. Here are some topic ideas: favorite music band, style, or how you perceive music.

You can interpret music as a topic in various ways. If you are getting a degree in this field, you might want to write something more specific and technical. If your essay aims to merely inform and entertain, write about your favorite music style or band.

If you are writing an essay for school, a good choice would be an expository essay. It doesn’t require any specific knowledge of the music industry. Title suggestions might be: “My perception of music,” “My favorite band,” “How music can change the world.”

• What is the Music Industry? Definition and Facts: Study.com
• What Music Do You Write To?: Writers & Artists
• A Music Review: British Council
• Music: UNC Writing Center: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Sound and Sense: Writing about Music: Colorado State University
• Music analysis Research Papers: Academia.edu
• The Power of Music Therapy: Belmont University
• Musicology: Northwestern Bienen School of Music
• Musicology: Areas of Study: Indiana State University
• Music Facts: Facts.net
• Music History from Primary Sources: Library of Congress
• Music: Encyclopedia Britannica
• A History of Classical Music: Part 1: The List
• What Is Jazz: Smithsonian Institution
• The 50 Greatest Composers of All Time: Classical Music
• Musical Terms and Concepts: SUNY Potsdam
• Ethnomusicology: University of Oxford
• Music Research Process: Syracuse University
• Journal of Popular Music Studies: University of California Press
• The History of Pop Music in 5 Defining Decades: The Culture Trip
• Music of the 20 th Century: Lumen Learning
• Explainer: Indie Music: The Conversation
• Your Brain on Music: University of Central Florida
• Music and Health: Harvard University
• The Psychological Function of Music Listening: NIH
• Essays that Worked: Hamilton
• Writing in Music: Writing Thesis Statements: The City University of New York
• Academic Writing about Music: University of Denver
• How to Write Song Lyrics: Berklee
• Essay Introduction: University of Maryland
• Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements: Purdue University
• Writing Body Paragraphs: Monash University
• Some Tips for Writing Efficient, Effective Body Paragraphs: University of California, Berkeley
• Writing a Paper: Conclusions: Walden University
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Thank you very much for this post on music essay writing! You don’t know how long I looked for the helpful information on writing music essays!

Music takes an important part in my life. I wake up and go to bed listening to music. And now when I’m writing my music essay, I also listen to music. And it’s also a pleasure to read an article on how to write an essay on music!

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Guide on How to Write a Music Essay: Topics and Examples

Let's Understand What is Music Essay

You know how some school assignments are fun to write by default, right? When students see them on the course syllabus, they feel less like a burden and more like a guaranteed pleasure. They are about our interests and hobbies and therefore feel innate and intuitive to write. They are easy to navigate, and interesting topic ideas just pop into your head without much trouble.

Music essays belong to the category of fun essay writing. What is music essay? Anything from in-depth analysis to personal thoughts put into words and then to paper can fall into a music essay category. An essay about music can cover a wide range of topics, including music history, theory, social impact, significance, and musical review. It can be an analytical essay about any music genre, musical instruments, or today's music industry.

Don't get us wrong, you will still need to do extensive research to connect your opinions to a broader context, and you can't step out of academic writing standards, but the essay writing process will be fun.

In this article, our custom essay writing service is going to guide you through every step of writing an excellent music essay. You can draw inspiration from the list of music essay topics that our team prepared, and later on, you will learn what an outstanding essay on music is by an example of a music review essay.

What are Some Music Topics to Write About

There are so many exciting music topics to write about. We would have trouble choosing one. You can write about various music genres, be it country music or classical music; you can research music therapy or how music production happens.

Okay, forgive us for getting carried away; music makes us enthusiastic. Below you will find a list of various music essay topics prepared from our thesis writing service . Choose one and write a memorable essay about everyone's favorite art form.

Music Argumentative Essay Topics

Music essays can be written about an infinite number of themes. You can even write about performance or media comparison.

Here is a list of music argumentative essay topics. These edge-cutting topics will challenge your readers and get you an easy A+.

• Exploring the evolution of modern music styles of the 21st century
• Is it ethical to own and play rare musical instruments?
• Is music therapy an effective mental health treatment?
• Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Creativity in electronic music
• The Relevance of traditional music theory in modern music production
• The Role of musical pieces in the Transmission of cultural identity
• The value of historical analysis in understanding the significance of music in society
• How does exposing listeners to different genres of music break down barriers
• Exploring the cognitive effects of music on human brain development
• The therapeutic potential of music in treating mental disorders

Why is Music Important Essay Topics

Do you know which essay thrills our team the most? The importance of music in life essay. We put our minds together and came up with a list of topics about why music is so central to human life. Start writing why is music important essay, and we guarantee you that you will be surprised by how much fun you had crafting it.  

• Popular Music and its Role in shaping cultural trends
• Music as a metaphorical language for expressing emotions and thoughts
• How music changes and influences social and political movements
• How the music of different countries translates their history to outsiders
• The innate connection between music and human beings
• How music helps us understand feelings we have never experienced
• Does music affect our everyday life and the way we think?
• Examining the cross-cultural significance of music in society
• How rock music influenced 70's political ideologies
• How rap music closes gaps between different racial groups in the US

Consider delegating your ' write my essay ' request to our expert writers for crafting a perfect paper on any music topic!

Why I Love Music Essay Topics

We want to know what is music to you, and the best way to tell us is to write a why I love music essay. Below you will find a list of music essay topics that will help you express your love for music.

• I love how certain songs and artists evoke Memories and Emotions
• I love the diversity of music genres and how different styles enrich my love for music
• I love how music connects me with people of different backgrounds
• How the music of Linkin Park helped me through life's toughest challenges
• What does my love for popular music say about me?
• How the unique sounds of string instruments fuel my love for music
• How music provides a temporary Release from the stresses of daily life
• How music motivates me to chase my dreams
• How the raw energy of rock music gets me through my daily life
• Why my favorite song is more than just music to me

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Music Therapy Essay Topics

One of the most interesting topics about music for an essay is music therapy. We are sure you have heard all the stories of how music cures not only mental but also physical pains. Below you can find a list of topics that will help you craft a compelling music therapy essay. And don't forget that you can always rely on our assistance for fulfilling your ' write my paper ' requests!

• The effectiveness of music therapy in reducing stress and pain for cancer patients
• Does pop music have the same effects on music therapy as classical music?
• Exploring the benefits of music therapy with other genres beyond classical music
• The potential of music therapy in aiding substance abuse treatment and recovery
• The Role of music therapy in Addressing PTSD and Trauma in military veterans
• The impact of music therapy on enhancing social interaction and emotional expression in individuals with developmental disabilities
• The use of music therapy in managing chronic pain
• Does musical therapy help depression?
• Does music reduce anxiety levels?
• Is music therapy better than traditional medicine?

History of Music Essay Topics

If you love analytical essays and prefer to see the bigger picture, you can always write a music description essay. Below you can find some of the most interesting topics for the history of music essay.

• The Significance of natural instruments in music production and performance
• Tracing the historical development of Western music theory
• How electronic music traces its roots back to classical music
• How the music industry evolved from sheet music to streaming services
• How modern producers relate to classical composers
• The Origins and Influence of Jazz Music
• How folk music saved the Stories of unnamed heroes
• Do we know what the music of ancient civilizations sounded like?
• Where does your favorite bandstand in the line of music evolve?
• The Influence of African American Music on modern pop culture

Benefits of Music Essay Topics

If you are someone who wonders what are some of the values that music brings to our daily life, you should write the benefits of music essay. The music essay titles below can inspire you to write a captivating essay:

• How music can be used to promote cultural awareness and understanding
• The benefits of music education in promoting creativity and innovation
• The social benefits of participating in music groups
• The Impact of Music on Memory and Learning
• The cognitive benefits of music education in early childhood development
• The effects of music on mood and behavior
• How learning to play an instrument improves cognitive functions.
• How music connects people distanced by thousands of miles
• The benefits of listening to music while exercising
• How music can express the feelings words fail to do so 

Music Analysis Essay Example

Reading other people's papers is a great way to scale yours. There are many music essay examples, but the one crafted by our expert writers stands out in every possible way. You can learn what a great thesis statement looks like, how to write an engaging introduction, and what comprehensive body paragraphs should look like. 

Click on the sample below to see the music analysis essay example. 

How to Write a Music Essay with Steps

Writing music essays is definitely not rocket science, so don't be afraid. It's just like writing any other paper, and a music essay outline looks like any other essay structure.

• Start by choosing a music essay topic. You can use our list above to get inspired. Choose a topic about music that feels more relevant and less researched so you can add brand-new insights. As we discussed, your music essay can be just about anything; it can be a concert report or an analytical paper about the evolution of music.
• Continue by researching the topic. Gather all the relevant materials and information for your essay on music and start taking notes. You can use these notes as building blocks for the paper. Be prepared; even for short essays, you may need to read books and long articles.
• Once you have all the necessary information, the ideas in your head will start to take shape. The next step is to develop a thesis statement out of all the ideas you have in your head. A thesis statement is a must as it informs readers what the entire music essay is about. Don't be afraid to be bold in your statement; new outlooks are always appreciated.
• Next, you'll need a music essay introduction. Here you introduce the readers to the context and background information about the research topic. It should be clear, brief, and engaging. You should set the tone of your essay from the very beginning. Don't forget the introduction is where the thesis statement goes.
• One of the most important parts of essay writing is crafting a central body paragraph about music. This is where you elaborate on your thesis, make main points, and support them with the evidence you gathered beforehand. Remember, your music essay should be well structured and depict a clear picture of your ideas.
• Next, you will need to come up with an ideal closing paragraph. Here you will need to once again revisit the main points in your music essay, restate them in a logical manner and give the readers your final thoughts.
• Don't forget to proofread your college essay. Whether you write a long or short essay on music, there will be grammatical and factual errors. Revise and look through your writing with a critical mind. You may find that some parts need rewriting.

Key Takeaways

Music essays are a pleasure to write and read. There are so many topics and themes to choose from, and if you follow our How to Write a Music Essay guide, you are guaranteed to craft a top-notch essay every time.

Be bold when selecting a subject even when unsure what is research essay topic on music, take the writing process easy, follow the academic standards, and you are good to go. Use our music essay sample to challenge yourself and write a professional paper. 

If you feel stuck and have no time our team of expert writers is always ready to give you help from all subject ( medical school personal statement school help ). Visit our website, submit your ' write my research paper ' request and a guaranteed A+ essay will be on your way in just one click.

Need Help in Writing an Impressive Paper?

Our expert writers are here to write a quality paper that will make you the star of your class!

FAQs on Writing a Music Essay

Though music essay writing is not the hardest job on the planet, there are still some questions that often pop up. Now that you have a writing guide and a list of essay topics about music, it's time to address the remaining inquiries. Keep reading to find the answers to the frequently asked questions. 

Should Artists' Music be Used in Advertising?

What type of music is best for writing an essay, why do people love music, related articles.

100+ Music Essay Topics

Table of Contents

Understanding the Music Essay

A music essay, as the name implies, revolves around the vast and intriguing world of music. Whether you’re exploring the history of a specific genre, dissecting the elements of a song, understanding the sociocultural impact of a certain artist, or analyzing the intricacies of musical theory, a music essay allows you to delve into the nuances of music from an academic perspective. Through it, you can weave narratives about emotion, culture, history, and even the science behind the sounds we love.

A Brief Guide on Choosing the Perfect Music Essay Topic

Choosing the right topic for your music essay is pivotal. Start by considering your own musical preferences. Are there artists, genres, or specific songs that captivate you? Next, ponder about contemporary issues in the music industry, or historical events that changed its course. Research is key. Dive deep into articles, documentaries, or interviews. Remember, the best essays are driven by passion and curiosity, so select a topic that resonates with you and ignites your interest.

Exciting Music Essay Topics to Consider

The evolution of genres.

• The Rise and Influence of Jazz in the 20th Century
• The Transformation of Pop Music Over the Decades
• The Origins and Global Spread of Reggae Music
• Grunge: More Than Just a Musical Genre

Influential Artists and Their Impact

• Beethoven: The Man Behind the Symphonies
• Bob Dylan: A Voice of Protest and Change
• The Cultural Significance of Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’
• How Freddie Mercury Pushed Musical Boundaries

The Science of Music

• The Psychological Impact of Music on the Human Brain
• The Relationship Between Music and Mathematics
• How Acoustics Affect Musical Performance
• The Therapeutic Benefits of Music Therapy

Music in the Digital Age

• The Shift from Vinyl to Streaming: What’s Lost and Gained
• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Music Trends
• The Impact of Auto-Tuning in Modern Music
• Piracy and Its Implications on the Music Industry

Global Music and Cultural Fusion

• The Influence of African Beats in Western Pop
• Bollywood Beats: A Dive into Indian Film Music
• The Emergence of K-Pop on the Global Stage
• The Fusion of Latin Rhythms in Global Chart-Toppers

Sociocultural Discussions in Music

• Music and Protest: A Historical Analysis
• Gender Roles and Stereotypes in Music Videos
• The Commercialization of Hip-Hop Culture
• The Role of Music Festivals in Shaping Youth Culture

Historical Explorations in Music

• The Influence of Baroque Music on Modern Genres
• The Harlem Renaissance and its Musical Legacy
• The Role of Music in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement
• Punk Rock: Anarchy, Rebellion, and Revolution

Genre-Specific Investigations

• The Ethereal Beauty of Classical Indian Raga
• The Pioneers of British Rock and Their Legacy
• The Appeal of Country Music: From Rural to Urban
• Electronic Dance Music: Its Roots and Revolution

Understanding Musical Elements

• The Power of Lyricism: Poetry in Songs
• Melody vs. Harmony: A Comparative Analysis
• The Role of Rhythm in Different Cultures
• The Art of Song Composition: From Idea to Reality

Contemporary Issues in Music

• Music and Mental Health: An Unbreakable Bond
• Navigating Identity and Representation in Today’s Music
• How Music Festivals are Redefining Cultural Engagement
• The Ethics of Sampling in Modern Music Production

Music Technology and Innovations

• The Evolution of Music Recording Techniques
• How AI is Transforming Music Creation
• The Resurgence of Vinyl in a Digital Age
• The Science Behind Earworms: Why Some Songs Stick

Musical Icons and Their Journeys

• David Bowie: Reinvention Through Decades
• Amy Winehouse: Talent, Tragedy, and Legacy
• The Timeless Appeal of Frank Sinatra
• Fela Kuti and the Birth of Afrobeat

World Music and Ethnomusicology

• The Rich Tapestry of Balkan Music Traditions
• Understanding the Maqams of Arabic Music
• The Cultural Layers of Flamenco: More than Just Dance
• Mongolian Throat Singing: Art of the Steppes

Music in Multimedia

• Film Scores and their Ability to Evoke Emotion
• The Role of Music in Video Games: Enhancing Player Experience
• How Advertisements Use Music to Influence Consumers
• Musicals: Merging Storytelling with Song and Dance

Music Education and Theory

• The Benefits of Learning an Instrument at a Young Age
• The Suzuki Method: Philosophy and Practice
• Western vs. Eastern Music Notation: A Comparative Study
• The Importance of Music Education in Schools

Cultural and Societal Impacts of Music

• The Role of Music in Cultural Assimilation and Diaspora
• How Music Shapes Political Movements
• The Influence of Music on Fashion Trends
• Music and Religion: A Harmonious Relationship

Music’s Therapeutic and Health Benefits

• Exploring Music’s Role in Stress Reduction
• Rhythmic Drumming: A Pathway to Healing
• Music as an Aid in Memory Retention for Alzheimer’s Patients
• How Sound Frequencies Impact Physical and Mental Well-being

Music Business and Industry Insights

• The Impact of Streaming Services on Artist Revenue
• The Role of Music Managers in Shaping an Artist’s Career
• Evolution of the Album Art: Vinyl to Digital
• The Real Cost of Organizing a World Tour

Crossover and Fusion in Music

• The Birth and Rise of Jazz-Rock Fusion
• Blending Classical and Pop: A Genre-Bending Exploration
• The Global Impact of Afro-Latin Jazz
• How Traditional Folk Influences Contemporary Pop

Analyses of Music Events and Phenomena

• Woodstock: How Three Days Defined a Generation
• The Role of Live Aid in Global Music Philanthropy
• The Cultural Impact of Eurovision Song Contest
• The Phenomenon of TV Talent Shows and their Influence on Modern Pop

Musical Innovations and Experimentation

• The Influence of Synthesizers on 80s Pop Music
• The Rise of Lo-Fi Music in a High-Tech Era
• Exploring the Soundscape of Ambient Music
• How Indie Artists are Redefining Music Production

Need Help Writing? We’ve Got You Covered!

Feeling overwhelmed? Whether you’re unsure about your topic choice or need assistance bringing your music essay to life, our professional writers at writeondeadline.com are here to help. Let us provide the expertise and flair to make your essay sing!

Useful References:

• All Music Guide – A comprehensive database on artists, albums, and genres.
• Digital Music News – A source for the latest trends in the digital music era.
• The World in Six Songs – A book by Daniel J. Levitin on how the musical brain created human nature.

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• Music Essay

Essay on Music

Music is like a universal language of life. It is basically the sound that is brought together through the harmony of various instruments. Our life would have been totally empty and different without music. It is something that every human being enjoys. It is a very powerful thing. Music helps to destress, heal, and motivate.

If you are looking for a short essay on music, then take a look at the short essay given in the following. This is created by the in-house exports of Vedantu keeping the understanding ability of the students. Those who are looking for references can look up to this following essay. It will be easy to figure out the pattern of how to write an essay on music. One can also download the Vedantu app to get access to the same file.

Music Essay for Students

“Without music, life will be a mistake” the statement of Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher, simplified the importance of music in one’s life so easily. Music has a magical impact on humans. It's the best form of magic. 

The origin of the word ‘music’ is the Greek word ‘mousike’ which means ‘art of muses’. Music is a form of art and artists decorate it. The music consists of lesser words with deeper meanings. Frequently people use music as a painkiller to escape from the pain of life.  ‘Musical Notations’ is the leading form to write music. This provides a reference to an artist so he can share with others if necessary. Music is a mood freshener and accompanies us in our pocket devices, on televisions, movies, and the most effective in live concerts.

Different forms of music have different effects on human nature. Music is the greatest creation of mankind in the course of history. A combination of deem lights and calm music encourages the listener to eat less and enjoy the food more. Listening to music positively in a car influences one’s mood leads to safer behaviour and fewer road rages ultimately minimising accidental destructions.

If the students love the music, it helps them in recalling the information more significantly along with improvement in verbal intelligence. The studies have found that listening to favourite songs helps fibromyalgia patients to experience less chronic pain. Music has a direct effect on our hormonal levels. Listening to music decreases the level of the hormone cortisol in our body and counteracts the effect of chronic stress.

The heart-touching music is nothing but creativity with the purest and undiluted form. The combination of vocal or instrumental sounds in such a way that it produces beauty and expresses emotions. Anyone can make their day by enjoying music by listening or by composting or by playing. The global facts say parents intensively use music to soothe children even to interact.

Music touches the heart through the ears. It has divine power to act as an energy booster. Some music assists in motivation while some play the best role in sympathy. Music helps us to fight insomnia. Listening to classical or relaxing music, just before going to bed, improves one’s sleep.

Though music helps to counteract depression and loneliness, people underestimate the impact of music on the human mindset in the age of irony age. On the other side of the coin, there are some types of music that can result in deleterious effects on the human mind and body. Listening to music with high decibels can damage neurons. The effect on the brain subjected to continuous exposure to electronic amplification of rhythmic music is similar to that of drugs.

Genres of Music

While talking about a wide variety of music that ranges from ages belonging to different places, cultures, and types, the list of genres is endless. However, some of the major genres of music are stated as below:

Folk & Traditional Music

Traditional music holds an impression of the culture that it represents. It is usually illustrated and sung with folk music. Folk music is taught by one generation to another vocally through singing it and by listening to it. Various dance performances are in order to make it stay intact through ages. In India, the state of Rajasthan is well known for its Traditional-folk music with its dance. Several other regions are also popular.

Art music describes the characteristics of both classical and contemporary art forms. It is usually sung by just one person and demands a high level of attention from its listeners. It is quite well known in Europe.

Religious Music

The type of music that is affiliated to the worshipping of God by singing it, is known as Religious Music. Every religion has its own style and way of singing it. Christian music is one of the most famous religious music known all over the world.

Popular Music

As the name suggests, the type of music that is popular and accessible to everyone and everywhere is known as Popular Music. Such music is composed mostly by the entertainment industry for the purpose of monetary income. As compared to other types of music, Popular Music attracts a notable audience through different concerts or Live shows.

It has gained immense popularity over a period of time and varies from country to country and from culture to culture. One can listen to it on public platforms, digital platforms, television commercials, radio, and even at shopping centres.

Popular music can be subcategorized into numerous types such as Hip Hop Music, Rock Music, Polka Music Music, Jazz Music, Pop Music Latin Music, Electronic Music, Punk Music, and many more. Among different types of Popular Music, Hip Hop Music is vividly famous, especially among the youth population. The culture of Hip Hop music originally started in New York City and now has taken over its place everywhere. The culture of Hip Hop dance has also emerged because of the same. With passing time, a lot of changes are happening in the field of Music but it will never go out of style.

Music is a healer to all human emotions from sadness to depression. It is a cause of happiness. Music content has many genres to play. Emotional expressions have been regarded as the most important criteria for the aesthetic value of music. Sometimes, some crises of life are impossible to express in proper sentences and their music plays its best part. Log on to Vedantu to find exciting essays on other topics and learn how to frame one perfectly from experts.

FAQs on Music Essay

1. What Role Does Music Play in Our Life?

Music is a very important part of our life as it is a way to express our feelings as well as emotions. For some people, music is a way to escape from all the pain. It gives you relief and allows you to destress yourself. Music plays a crucial role in our life rather than just being a source of entertainment. More importantly, music is something that can be enjoyed by everyone irrespective of their caste, creed, age, or gender.

2. Why is Music So Powerful?

Music is a language of emotion in that it can represent different feelings of a soul without any boundaries or limitations. When people feel really low and think that no one understands them, they listen to music. It is a good weapon to imitate emotions and reduce them. Music is something that can be felt from within our soul. Music is connected with Nature. There are numerous incidents of various singers where singing had led towards the showering of rains. 

3. How Can I Write an Essay on Music?

Get to know the topic. You can't start writing about music until you've familiarised yourself with the concept. Do research thoroughly. Understand the important points and jot them down. Then draw a structure and start writing an essay. A student needs to realise the importance of music and the belonging of its culture for a better understanding and ease of writing. Talking to different artists from this field may also help in writing the essay. Refer to this essay framed by the experts of Vedantu and compile on your own.

4. Is Music a Means of Therapy?

In this modern era where everyone is busy living their hectic life, music plays an important role in soothing one’s mental health. Over a course of time, it has been scientifically proven that music acts as a therapy for a person suffering from depression or anxiety. Even the sound of waves in the ocean helps to heal a person mentally. Thus, psychologists suggest hearing calm and soothing to gain relief from worldly distress.

431 Music Essay Topics & Ideas

5 December 2023

last updated

Music essay topics explore diverse areas of music for academic or personal writing. This comprehensive collection of ideas encourages intellectual curiosity with topics ranging from historical musicology to contemporary pop culture. It also offers thematic ideas, like examining musical elements, understanding music’s societal influences, or analyzing distinct music genres. Aspiring musicologists, students, or avid music enthusiasts will find this article highly valuable for its broad spectrum and adaptable nature, suitable for various writing levels and interests. In this case, people delve deeper into music’s rich legacy, challenging them to form original perspectives and contribute to the larger discourse on music. Hence, this article on many music essay topics is a valid resource for unlocking the academic and artistic potential of music.

Hot Music Essay Topics

• The Cultural Impact of British Invasion Bands in the 1960s
• Decoding the Evolution of Hip-Hop from the 1970s to Today
• How Music Streaming Platforms are Revolutionizing the Music Industry
• The Role of Music in Social Movements: A Deep Dive into the Civil Rights Era
• The Pervasive Influence of Jazz on Contemporary Music Genres
• Punk Rock as the Soundtrack of Rebellion and its Sociopolitical Significance
• Exploring the Cultural Phenomenon of Woodstock: Music, Counterculture, and Legacy
• A Comprehensive Review of the Effect of Music Therapy on Mental Health
• An Analysis of Melody and Harmony in Classical Music
• Unraveling the Relationship Between Music and Identity from a Psychological Perspective
• Music Meets Technology: The Evolution of Synthesizers in Electronic Music
• Behind the Scenes and Processes of the Music Business: The Role of Record Labels
• The Cultural Appropriation Controversy in the Realm of Popular Music
• Tracing the Influence of African Music on American Blues and Jazz
• The Impact of MTV and Music Videos on the Landscape of Pop Culture
• A Review of Music Censorship: Historical Cases and Modern Challenges
• Women in the Music Industry: Understanding the Barriers and Celebrating the Breakthroughs
• The Effect of Globalization on the Dissemination of Non-Western Music Genres
• The Role and Impact of Music in Education: An Examination of School Music Programs
• The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones: A Comparative Analysis of Musical Style and Influence

Easy Music Essay Topics

• Evolution of Pop Music Genre in the 21st Century
• Impact of Technology on Music Production
• Influence of Classical Music on Modern Genres
• Societal Relevance of Protest Songs in History
• Examining the Relationship Between Music and Emotion
• Significance of Traditional Music in Cultural Identity
• Rap Music’s Influence on Youth Culture
• Beatles’ Effect on Rock ‘n’ Roll Development
• Comparison Between Baroque and Renaissance Music
• Exploration of Music Therapy and Its Benefits
• Film Scores: Music’s Pivotal Role in Cinema
• Interrelation between Dance and Rhythm in Music
• Globalization’s Impact on World Music Genres
• Cultural Representation in Broadway Musicals
• Feminism in Pop Music: Empowering or Exploitative?
• Genre Fusion: How Reggae Influenced Hip-Hop
• Psychological Effects of Music on Human Behavior
• Depiction of Love in Country Music Lyrics
• Dissecting the Business Model of Streaming Services in the Music Industry

Interesting Music Essay Topics

• Unraveling the Impact of Music on Cognitive Development
• Globalization and Its Influence on Music Genres
• History and Evolution of Jazz: A Cultural Perspective
• Healing Powers of Music: Fact or Fiction?
• Pop Culture’s Influence on Contemporary Music
• The Role of Music in Social Movements
• Analyzing the Cultural Significance of Hip-Hop
• The Science Behind Music’s Effect on Mood
• Exploring the Artistic Value of Album Cover Designs
• Autotune and Digitization: Blessing or Curse for the Music Industry?
• Representation of Gender and Sexuality in Pop Music
• Ethical Implications of Music Streaming Services
• The Connection Between Music and Emotions: A Psychological Analysis
• Evolution of Music Production Techniques: A Technological Study
• Indie Music Scene: A Study of Its Growth and Impact
• Music Festivals: Economic and Cultural Implications
• Music Education: Its Importance in Schools
• Role of Music in Film and Television: A Comprehensive Analysis
• The Phenomenon of K-Pop: Cultural Exchange and Globalization
• Copyright Laws and Their Impact on the Music Industry

100 General Music Essay Topics

• The Future of Music: Exploring AI and Machine Learning
• Nurturing Music Education in Schools
• Ethical Considerations in Music Piracy
• Women in the Music Industry: Breaking Barriers and Empowering Change
• Reggae’s Global Impact on Music Styles
• Unveiling the Popularity of K-Pop
• Music’s Impact on Cognitive Development
• Music Censorship: Perspectives from Around the World
• Cultural Identity Formation and the Power of Music
• The Interplay of Music and Politics
• The Cinematic Power of Music: Exploring Soundtracks
• The Music Festival Business: Strategies and Successes
• The Emergence of Indie Music: A New Era of Creativity
• Latin Music’s Influence on Global Pop Culture
• Music’s Role in Enhancing Physical Performance
• The Science Behind Sound: An Introduction to Acoustics
• Exploring the History of Electronic Music
• The British Invasion’s Impact on American Music
• Music’s Therapeutic Role: Healing and Transforming Lives
• Boy Bands and Girl Groups: Cultural Phenomena in Music
• Motown Records: Shaping Music and Culture
• Country Music’s Influence on American Identity
• The Sociology of Music: Exploring Fan Culture and Subcultures
• Music’s Emotional Power: Understanding Mood and Emotion
• The Evolution of Music Videos: From MTV to YouTube
• Reviving Vinyl Records in the Digital Age
• The Beatles’ Enduring Legacy in Modern Music
• Streaming Services and the Changing Landscape of Music Consumption
• Unraveling the Psychology of Musical Preferences
• Music Globalization: Bridging Cultures and Connecting Hearts
• Music’s Role in Spiritual and Religious Practices
• The Fusion of Music and Visual Arts
• Music and Mindfulness: Exploring Meditation and Sound
• Blues Music: A Cultural Significance
• Opera’s Influence on Modern Theatrical Music
• Transforming Music Production in the Digital Era
• Music’s Impact on Childhood Development
• Rock and Roll: Revolutionizing Social Change
• Ethnomusicology: Understanding Music in Cultural Context
• The Complex Relationship Between Music and Violence
• Music’s Role in Promoting Social Inclusion
• Punk Music’s Impact on Youth Culture: Rebellion, Expression, and Identity
• Copyright Laws in Music: Balancing Protection and Creativity
• Harnessing the Power of Music in Advertising: Soundtracks, Emotions, and Branding
• LGBTQ+ Representation in the Music Industry: Breaking Barriers and Amplifying Voices
• The Influence of Gospel Music on the R&B and Soul Genres: Roots and Inspirations
• Music’s Cultural Role in Indigenous Communities: Tradition, Identity, and Resilience
• Music’s Impact on Workplace Productivity: Boosting Focus, Motivation, and Performance
• Disco’s Influence on Dance Music: Rhythm, Groove, and Dancefloor Revolution
• Music as a Voice of Protest: From Folk Anthems to Punk Anthems
• Grunge Music: The Rise of Alternative Rock and Its Lasting Impact
• Music Sampling: Artistic Innovation or Plagiarism Debate?
• The Influence of Rap Music on Modern Poetry: Rhyme, Rhythm, and Social Commentary
• Music Technology’s Impact on Live Performances: Innovation, Integration, and Audience Experience
• Music’s Narration in Film: Enhancing Emotion, Atmosphere, and Storytelling
• The Evolution of Music Genres: Shaping Sounds, Styles, and Cultural Trends
• From Vinyl to Digital: Exploring the Art of DJing and Its Technological Transformations
• Music’s Role in Language Learning: Enhancing Linguistic Skills and Cultural Understanding
• Music’s Contribution to Raising Awareness of Sustainable Development Goals
• Exploring the Frontier of Music in Virtual Reality: Immersive Experiences and Creative Possibilities
• The Role of Music in Video Games: Immersion, Atmosphere, and Player Engagement
• Evolving Children’s Music: From Traditional Rhymes to Educational Entertainment
• The Impact of Online Channels and Social Media on Music Promotion: Reaching Audiences, Building Communities
• Classical Music’s Influence on Cognitive Abilities: Memory, Focus, and Mental Development
• Flamenco Music’s Cultural Significance: Expressing Passion, Heritage, and Identity
• The Evolution and Impact of Music Television Channels: Shaping Popular Culture and Music Consumption
• Folk Music’s Influence on Modern Singer-Songwriters: Traditions, Storytelling, and Contemporary Expressions
• Music’s Therapeutic Role in Dementia and Alzheimer’s Treatment: Memory, Connection, and Quality of Life
• Broadway Musicals’ Influence on Popular Culture: Theatrical Magic, Showmanship, and Entertainment
• The #MeToo Movement’s Impact on the Music Industry: Addressing Abuse, Empowering Change
• Music’s Role in Teenage Identity Formation: Expression, Belonging, and Self-Discovery
• African American Music Evolution: From Spirituals to Hip-Hop
• The History and Influence of Bollywood Music: Celebrating India’s Cinematic Melodies
• Music Genres’ Effect on Exercise Performance: Rhythm, Tempo, and Motivation
• Music’s Role in Climate Change Awareness: Advocacy, Inspiration, and Environmental Impact
• Heavy Metal Music: Evolution, Subgenres, and Cultural Influence
• Mariachi Music’s Cultural Significance: Tradition, Celebration, and Mexican Heritage
• Technology’s Influence on Music Creation: Digital Tools, Production Techniques, and Creative Possibilities
• Music’s Role in Autism Therapy: Communication, Expression, and Emotional Support
• Music’s Impact on Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Relaxation, Mindfulness, and Wellness
• The Influence of Music on Sleep Quality: Relaxation, Sleep Patterns, and Sleep Hygiene
• Evolving Music Criticism in the Digital Age: From Print to Online Platforms
• Music’s Role in Multicultural Education: Celebrating Diversity, Promoting Inclusion
• The History and Influence of Salsa Music: Rhythm, Dance, and Cultural Fusion
• Music’s Impact on Consumer Behavior in Retail: Atmosphere, Branding, and Purchase Decisions
• Music’s Influence on Memory Recall: Soundtracks, Nostalgia, and Emotional Connections
• Music’s Role in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment: Healing, Coping, and Resilience
• The History and Influence of J-Pop Music: Pop Culture, Fashion, and Global Fanbase
• The Impact of Music on Early Childhood Education: Development, Learning, and Creativity
• Music’s Influence on the Perception of Time: Tempo, Rhythm, and Psychological Effects
• Music’s Role in Community Development: Collaboration, Empowerment, and Social Change
• Psychedelic Rock’s Influence on Contemporary Music: Innovation, Counterculture, and Sonic Exploration
• Rehabilitation and Recovery: The Transformative Role of Music
• Reggaeton Music: Cultural Origins, Influence, and Global Reach
• Music’s Impact on Neuroplasticity: Brain Development, Learning, and Cognitive Abilities
• Celtic Music’s Influence on Modern Folk Genres: Traditions, Melodies, and Cultural Connections
• The Creative Spark: Music’s Role in Enhancing Creativity
• Swing Music: The History, Style, and Enduring Appeal
• The Role of Music in Pain Management: Soothing, Distraction, and Therapeutic Effects
• Ambient Music’s Influence on Relaxation and Mindfulness: Creating Tranquil Soundscapes

Argumentative Music Essay Topics

• Pop Music’s Influence on Youth: Impact or Exploitation?
• The Appropriation vs. Appreciation Debate in Music
• Evaluating the Effects of Digital Streaming on Artists’ Earnings
• Autotune: Enhancing Music or Undermining Talent?
• Exploitation in the Music Industry: A Reality Check
• Does Music Genre Define Individual Personality Traits?
• Impact of Explicit Content in Music: Artistic Freedom or Harmful Influence?
• Music Censorship: Necessary Measure or Infringement of Rights?
• Should Music Education Be Mandatory in Schools?
• Influence of Western Music on Other Cultures: Cultural Exchange or Dominance?
• The Commercialization of Indie Music: Evolution or Degradation?
• Are Reality Music Shows Truly Beneficial for Aspiring Musicians?
• Music Therapy: Genuine Healing Method or Placebo Effect?
• Classical Music’s Relevance in the Modern Era: Declining or Evolving?
• The Ethics of Sampling in Modern Music Production
• Role of Music in Film: Essential Component or Marketing Tactic?
• Is The Popularity of an Artist Reflective of Their Musical Talent?
• Music Piracy: Fair Use or Unfair Practice?
• Do Music Festivals Promote Cultural Integration or Commodification?
• Boy Bands Phenomenon: Musical Skill or Mere Fan Frenzy?

Research Music Essay Topics

• Analyzing the Evolution of Punk Rock Music
• The Role of Folk Music in Preserving Cultural Heritage
• Impacts of Technology on Music Production and Distribution
• Understanding the Psychological Effects of Music Therapy
• Classical Music: Its Influence on Modern Genres
• Musical Improvisation: An Analysis of Jazz and Blues
• The Impact of Social Issues on Hip-Hop Lyrics
• Exploring the Economic Aspects of the Music Industry
• Evolution of Music Videos: Artistic Expression or Commercial Endeavor?
• The Effect of Digital Streaming on Independent Musicians
• The Phenomenon of Boy Bands: Sociocultural Aspects
• Censorship in Music: A Comparative Study Across Nations
• Evaluating the Role of Soundtracks in Movies
• Impact of Music Education on Child Development
• The Relationship Between Dance and Music: A Cultural Exploration
• Gender Representation in Music: A Critical Analysis
• The Influence of Latin Music on Popular Culture
• Ethnomusicology: Studying Music in Its Cultural Context
• The Role of Music in Historical Events and Movements

World Music Essay Topics

• African Music Traditions: Influence and Evolution
• The Role of Music in Indigenous Cultures
• Exploring the Diversity of Asian Music Genres
• Flamenco: An Insight into Spanish Music and Dance
• Celtic Music: Its Roots and Influence on Contemporary Genres
• The Impact of Reggae on Global Music Culture
• Analyzing the Musical Elements of Bollywood Film Scores
• Samba: The Rhythmic Heartbeat of Brazil
• Origins and Development of American Blues Music
• Middle Eastern Music: Exploring Its Unique Characteristics
• The Cultural Significance of Australian Aboriginal Music
• Understanding the Evolution of European Classical Music
• The Role of Music in Caribbean Festivals and Celebrations
• The Influence of French Chanson on Popular Music
• Traditional Music’s Role in Cultural Preservation: Case Study of Japanese Gagaku
• The Impact of Greek Folk Music on Mediterranean Musical Traditions
• The Intersection of Music and Religion in Indian Ragas
• Exploring the Cultural Diversity in Mexican Music
• The Historical Evolution of Russian Folk Music
• Musical Instruments and Their Role in Defining Cultural Identity: The African Djembe as a Case Study

Hip-Hop Music Essay Topics

• Hip-Hop: A Powerful Medium for Social Commentary
• Examining the Influence of Hip-Hop on Fashion Trends
• Roles of Sampling in the Artistic Identity of Hip-Hop
• Exploring the Controversy: Does Hip-Hop Promote Violence?
• The Cultural Significance of Beatboxing in Hip-Hop
• Analyzing the Impact of Hip-Hop on Language and Slang
• The Influence of Hip-Hop on Pop Culture
• Feminism in Hip-Hop: Progress and Challenges
• How Does Hip-Hop Music Address Racial Issues?
• The Economics of the Hip-Hop Industry
• Evolution of Dance Styles in Hip-Hop Culture
• Hip-Hop’s Influence on Mental Health Discourse
• East Coast vs. West Coast: The Hip-Hop Rivalry
• The Impact of Digital Platforms on Hip-Hop Music Distribution
• Analyzing the Role of DJs in Hip-Hop Culture
• Hip-Hop and Its Influence on Global Music Genres
• The Commercialization of Hip-Hop: Artistic Freedom or Selling Out?
• Autobiographical Storytelling in Hip-Hop: A Tool for Empowerment

Pop Music Essay Topics

• Gender Representation in the Pop Music Industry
• The Global Impact of K-Pop: An Unstoppable Phenomenon
• Influence of Pop Music on Teenagers’ Attitudes and Behaviors
• Autotune: Enhancement or Detriment to Pop Music?
• The Role of Music Videos in the Pop Culture Landscape
• Analyzing the Success of Boy Bands in Pop Music
• Cultural Appropriation Concerns in the Pop Music Industry
• Power Dynamics: Examining the Business Behind Pop Music
• How Social Media Transformed Pop Music Stardom
• From Pop Divas to Feminist Icons: A Shift in Representation
• Latin Pop’s Rising Influence on the Global Music Scene
• Pop Music Lyrics: Reflection of Social Issues or Simple Entertainment?
• Technology’s Role in Shaping the Sound of Modern Pop Music
• Science of a Pop Hit: Factors that Influence Chart Success
• Mental Health and Its Portrayal in Pop Music
• Pop Music Collaborations: A Marketing Strategy or Artistic Choice?
• The Influence of Western Pop Music in Non-Western Countries
• Exploring the Relationship Between Pop Music and Dance
• The Ethical Implications of Sampling in Pop Music

Rock Music Essay Topics

• The Crossroads of Rock and Pop: Evolution of Pop Rock
• Grunge Rock: Its Origins, Influence, and Decline
• Influence of Rock Music on Fashion Trends Over the Decades
• The Role of Rebellion Themes in Rock Music
• Gender Representation and Dynamics in Rock Music
• The Significance of Live Performances in the Rock Music Scene
• The Fusion of Blues and Rock: A Historical Overview
• How Technological Advances Shaped the Sound of Rock Music
• Rock Music as a Tool for Social Activism and Change
• Psychedelic Rock and Its Effect on the Music Industry
• Heavy Metal: A Subgenre of Rock Music with Distinctive Features
• How Has Punk Rock Challenged Mainstream Music Norms?
• Rock Music in Movies: Enhancing Narrative and Emotion
• Analyzing the Pioneers of Rock and Roll: Their Legacy and Influence
• Cultural Impact of the British Invasion in the 1960s
• The Evolution of Rock Music: From Roots to Contemporary Forms
• Roles of Music Festivals in the Promotion of Rock Music
• Examining the Lyrics of Rock Music: Sociopolitical Commentary
• The Impact of Rock Music on Teenagers’ Behavioral Patterns
• Exploring the Relationship Between Rock Music and Youth Culture

Dance Music Essay Topics

• Dance Music and Its Role in Promoting Physical Health
• The Rise and Influence of Dubstep in Contemporary Dance Music
• The Business of Dance Music: From Record Labels to Streaming Platforms
• Role of Technology in the Development of Electronic Dance Music
• The Influence of Cultural Diversity on Dance Music Genres
• Dance Music in Film: Enhancing Narrative and Atmosphere
• Understanding the DJ’s Role in Shaping Dance Music Culture
• Tracing the Origins and Evolution of House Music
• The Social Impact of Club Culture on Dance Music
• Music Production Techniques in Modern Dance Genres
• Choreography and Dance Music: An Inseparable Pair
• The Impact of Dance Music on Pop Culture
• How Does Dance Music Shape Fashion Trends?
• Commercialization of Dance Music: Pros and Cons
• Exploration of Gender Dynamics in the Dance Music Scene
• Dance Music Festivals: Impact on Tourism and Local Economies
• Analyzing the Global Appeal of K-Pop Dance Music
• The Relationship Between Dance Music and Youth Culture
• Evolution of Dance Music: From Disco to Electronic

Relax Music Essay Topics

• Science Behind Relaxing Music: How Does It Affect Our Brain?
• Evolution of Relaxing Music: From Classical to New Age
• The Role of Music in Yoga and Meditation Practices
• Analyzing the Impact of Relaxing Music on Sleep Quality
• Soundscapes in Relaxation Music: From Nature Sounds to White Noise
• Relaxing Music and Its Influence on Stress and Anxiety Levels
• The Significance of Tempo and Rhythm in Relaxing Music
• The Use of Relaxing Music in Therapeutic Settings
• Understanding the Cultural Differences in Relaxation Music
• Relaxing Music in the Classroom: Does It Enhance Learning?
• Impacts of Relaxing Music on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
• Roles of Relaxing Music in Improving Concentration and Focus
• Relaxing Music and Its Effects on Post-Workout Recovery
• Use of Relaxation Music in Maternity Wards and Its Effect on Newborns
• Harmonic Structures Commonly Found in Relaxing Music
• The Influence of Ambient Music on Mental Well-being
• Roles of Music Therapy in Reducing Anxiety and Pain in Patients
• Can Relaxing Music Enhance the Quality of Meditation?
• Binaural Beats and Isochronic Tones: Do They Help in Relaxation?
• Relaxing Music in Workplaces: Impact on Productivity and Employee Satisfaction

Indie Music Essay Topics

• An Examination of the Business Strategies Employed in the Indie Music Scene
• The Progressive Influence of Technology on Indie Music’s Growth
• Decoding the Artistic Liberty Inherent in Indie Music Creation
• Cultural Connotations and Impacts Linked to Indie Music: An Analysis
• Indie Music’s Contributions to Fashion and Contemporary Lifestyle Phenomena
• The Part Indie Music Plays in Challenging Dominant Pop Culture
• Tracing the Evolution and Influence of Indie Music Within the Music Industry
• A Comparative Study on the Unique Aesthetics Found in Indie Music
• The Rise of DIY Practices in Indie Music Culture: An Ethnographic Perspective
• The Correlation Between Indie Music and Socio-Political Discourse Advocacy
• Indie Music Festivals: An Analysis of Their Distinctive Features and Attraction
• Roles and Impacts of Internet Technology and Social Media in Advancing the Popularity of Indie Music
• How Indie Music Affects Identity Development: A Psychological View?
• Understanding the Intersection of Indie Music and Independent Cinema
• Investigating Gender Depictions within the Indie Music Scene: A Thematic Study
• The Challenges and Prospects Faced by Indie Artists in Today’s Digital Era
• A Deep Dive into the Shifting Soundscapes in Indie Music Over Time
• The Influence of Indie Music on Modern Youth Culture from a Sociological Angle
• Indie Music as a Tool for Artistic and Cultural Dissent

Training Music Essay Topics

• The Science Behind Music and Its Impact on Athletic Performance
• Rhythmic Influence: How Music Affects Training Patterns
• Understanding the Psychology of Training Music: A Detailed Analysis
• Evaluating the Role of Music in Enhancing Concentration During Training
• The Impact of Music Tempo on Training Intensity
• Role of Training Music in Stress Reduction and Relaxation
• The Use of Music in Rehabilitation Training: A Therapeutic Perspective
• Music Preferences Among Athletes: An Ethnographic Study
• How Training Music Facilitates Flow State in Athletes
• Exploring the Relationship Between Music Genres and Training Types
• Music’s Influence on Physical Endurance and Stamina
• The Art of Curating Effective Training Music Playlists
• Roles of Music in Reducing Perceived Exertion During Workouts
• Harmonizing Heart Rate and Beat: Music’s Role in Cardio Training
• Psychological Benefits of Incorporating Music into Fitness Training
• Music and Mindfulness in Training: A New Approach
• The Impact of Lyrics in Training Music on Athlete Motivation
• The Interplay of Music and Training in Dance and Choreography
• Sonic Branding: The Use of Music in Athletic Training Brands
• Historical Development of Music Usage in Training Environments

Love Music Essay Topics

• The Power of Love Ballads: Analyzing Their Emotional Impact on Listeners
• Unveiling the Romantic Themes in Pop Music: A Comparative Analysis
• Exploring the Evolution of Love Songs: From Classic to Contemporary
• Melodies of Passion: Examining the Role of Music in Expressing Love and Desire
• The Language of Love: Understanding Symbolism in Romantic Music Lyrics
• Captivating Melodies, Enduring Love: A Study on Timeless Love Songs
• Rhythm of the Heart: Analyzing the Role of Music in Strengthening Romantic Connections
• Love in Every Note: Exploring the Intertwining of Music and Romantic Relationships
• Harmonic Love Stories: Examining Musical Narratives of Love and Heartbreak
• The Influence of Love Songs on Romantic Expectations and Perceptions of Love
• The Soundtrack of Love: Investigating the Impact of Music on Relationship Satisfaction
• Love Across Genres: Comparing the Expression of Love in Different Musical Styles
• Musical Chemistry: Exploring the Role of Shared Music Preferences in Romantic Bonds
• Unforgettable Duets: The Magic of Collaborative Love Songs
• Musical Love Letters: Examining the Role of Music in Long-Distance Relationships
• Love and Lyrical Evolution: Tracing the Changes in Romantic Themes in Music History
• The Healing Power of Love Songs: Analyzing Their Therapeutic Effects on Emotional Well-Being
• The Intersection of Love and Social Commentary in Music: Examining Love as a Catalyst for Change
• Love in the Digital Age: Investigating the Influence of Streaming Platforms on Love Music Consumption

Metal Music Essay Topics

• Tracing the Evolution of Metal Music: Unraveling Its Origins and Diverse Subgenres
• Identity Formation and Subcultural Affiliation in Metal Music: Examining Its Influential Impacts
• Shattering Gender Norms in Metal Music: Defying Stereotypes and Empowering Voices
• Mental Health and Catharsis in Metal Music: Unleashing Its Profound Impact on Well-Being
• Decoding the Themes and Symbolism in Metal Music Lyrics: Unveiling Perspectives and Social Commentary
• The Political Potency of Metal Music: Galvanizing Activism and Fueling Protest Movements
• Innovations and Controversies in Metal Music Production: Embracing Technological Advancements and Provocations
• Globalization and Metal Music: Cross-Cultural Exchange and the Fusion of Sonic Landscapes
• Aesthetics and Visual Imagery in Metal Music: Embodying Power through Striking Album Art and Electrifying Stage Performances
• Spirituality, Religion, and Metal Music: Exploring Intersections and Controversial Explorations
• Metal Music as a Catalyst for Subversion: Igniting Rebellion Through Its Countercultural Essence
• Pop Culture Impact: Illuminating the Profound Influence of Metal Music on Fashion, Media, and Widespread Popularity
• Language and Expression in Metal Music: Analyzing Lyrics and Communication within Vibrant Subcultural Communities
• Historical and Cultural Contexts of Metal Music: Forging Identity, Revolting, and Carrying Cultural Significance
• Metal Music Communities: Forging Unbreakable Bonds through Online Spaces, Fan Clubs, and Transformative Rituals
• The Influence of Metal Music on Music Education: Navigating Challenges and Unleashing Transformative Possibilities in Pedagogy
• Ethnic Identity and Metal Music: Representing, Appropriating, and Enriching Cultural Heritage
• The Economic, Social, and Cultural Impacts of Metal Music Festivals in the Live Music Industry
• Metal Music in the Digital Age: Navigating Digital Platforms, Streaming, and Thriving Online Communities
• Empowerment, Catharsis, and Resilience: Unleashing the Transformative Potential of Metal Music on Health and Well-Being

Jazz Music Essay Topics

• Unveiling the Influence and Significance: Exploring Jazz as a Catalyst for Cultural Revolution
• The Art of Improvisation: Unraveling the Creative Process in Jazz Music
• Examining the Contributions of Pioneering Musicians: The Innovators Who Shaped Jazz
• Blending Genres and Pushing Musical Boundaries: The Fusion of Jazz with Other Styles
• The Intersection of Music and Social Change: Jazz’s Role in the Civil Rights Movement
• Analyzing the Elements that Define the Genre: The Aesthetics of Jazz Music
• Nurturing the Next Generation of Jazz Musicians: The Importance of Jazz Education
• Celebrating Black American Artistic Expression: Jazz and the Harlem Renaissance
• Exploring Cultural Adaptations and Influences: Jazz in a Global Context
• Unlocking the Secrets of Jazz Harmony and Structure: Composition and Arranging in Jazz Music
• Celebrating Female Jazz Musicians and Their Contributions: The Role of Women in Jazz
• Bridging Cultures through Rhythms and Sounds: Jazz and Its Fusion with Latin Music
• Pushing the Boundaries of Musical Expression: Jazz and the Avant-Garde Movement
• Tracing the Roots of the Genre: Jazz and Its Influences from African Rhythms
• Examining the Unique Style and Artistry of Jazz Singers: Vocalists in Jazz Music
• From Duke Ellington to Count Basie and Beyond: Exploring the Jazz Big Band Tradition
• Embracing Technology while Preserving Tradition: Jazz in the Digital Age
• Understanding the Essential Groove of the Genre: Jazz and the Concept of Swing
• Preserving Jazz’s Worldwide Appeal and Adaptation: Jazz as a Global Language

Classical Music Essay Topics

• The Influence of Musical Structure on Emotional Responses in Classical Compositions Explored
• Gender Representation in Classical Music: A Comparative Study
• Relationship Between Tempo and Perceived Expressiveness in Beethoven’s Symphonies Examined
• Musical Devices Depicting Nature in Classical Orchestral Works Analyzed
• Historical Context of Classical Music and Its Connection to Social Movements Explored
• Instrumentation’s Role in Interpreting Baroque Music Investigated
• Melodic Patterns in Mozart and Bach’s Piano Sonatas: A Comparative Study
• Symbolism of Key Signatures in Classical Music Compositions Explored
• Influence of Cultural Background on Classical Music Preferences Examined
• Harmony’s Role in Classical Chamber Music Analyzed
• Musical Techniques Creating Narrative Structures in Classical Operas Explored
• Rhythm and Meter in Classical Symphonies: A Comparative Analysis
• Connection Between Classical Music and Spatial Perception Explored
• Representation of Mythological Themes in Classical Music Compositions Examined
• Dynamics and Articulation’s Effect on Interpretation of Romantic Era Piano Music Explored
• Role of Improvisation in Classical Music Performances Investigated
• Connection Between Classical Music and Memory Retrieval Explored
• Influence of National Identity on Classical Music Composers of the 19th Century Examined
• Evolution of Orchestration Techniques in Classical Music Explored
• Contrapuntal Techniques in Fugues by Classical Composers Examined

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65 Popular Music Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

1. introduction.

"Music is the art form of the current and the past as it is something that you cannot escape. It is a form of media that is inescapable. This is the precise reason, in my opinion, that we must study it. It is something that naturally occupies our mind and there is an undeniable pleasure in listening to it. The fact of the matter is that music is all around us. We hear it when waking up, when going for a walk or when having dinner. For many of us, music is so commonplace that we simply take it for granted. Even in a world dominated by television and internet streaming services, where movies and programme-makers are increasingly trying to find new and exciting ways to make music less invasive and give control to the viewer, this same control is of no consequence in the study of music. In a world full of music - in a world of study - none of that matters; the music is the focus of that world. With so many opportunities. And with music being the focal point of so many people's everyday lives. This is simply not good enough. We must study music as it has its own intrinsic value."

1.1. Importance of studying popular music

Popular music has long been a major focus of academic study and received substantial attention from music scholars over the years. The value of music and 'Music to People' guides us into popular music as an interesting piece of work amongst modern-day scholars. According to Jeff Todd Titon, popular music is defined based on 'commercial success' and 'number of units sold' that signifies popular music has preference over profit rather than music's aesthetic value. The study of popular music also assists educators and school administrators in better understanding the importance of music jobs within the general education music curriculum. This includes not only developing students' musical abilities, but also developing music appreciation and critical listening skills that are valuable throughout one's life. Individual and group inquiry studies have been conducted by students from various research disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, health sciences, and science and technology. These studies have examined a wide range of topics in the general field of "popular music," representing diversity in this dynamic field. In the two pages of the Music Handbook 2012 distributed by the School of Music, University of Queensland, there is no single word being mentioned about popular music. This suggests that popular music is very likely ignored when people are talking about music with an academic tone. If we do believe music is a subject that is significant for achieving different knowledge, skills, and understanding, it is then justifiable and reasonable to start introducing and studying popular music in the education system.

1.2. Overview of the essay topics

In addition to the fifteen example topics for each of the four sections, the range of topics also supports the breadth of the music content that is covered in the course from beginners with no background knowledge to advanced course for music majors. The topics cover the early stages of the development of popular music and the early rock and roll era, the impact that the advancement of lifting the British rock music has, as well as the varying impact of popular music on society over the past decades. Topics also cover how technology has impacted the production and consumption of popular music, changes in the style preference of popular music among different generations, as well as the use of popular music in the digital age. Students who are more interested in cultural studies and cross-disciplinary approaches can select topics which explore the reflection of social issues in popular music, the role of popular music in shaping identity, or cross-cultural influences of popular music. More historical themed topics such as the impact of popular music on cultural change throughout history is also provided. With such a wide range of topic options, students that take popular music courses at the University not only have the opportunity to explore and learn about their areas of interest but also have multiple chances to develop and refine their research questions and thesis for their academic studies. This also promotes an inquisitive and explorative learning environment in which students can apply the knowledge they learnt in class to research in-depth and complex studies under different fields of popular music studies. And by conducting these researches, students can gain both hands-on experience on data collection and critical analysis from a wide range of sources, as well as discoveries of new perspectives and music genres that they may not encounter in their daily life. Overall, the variety in the topics reflects the authors' understanding that popular music research is a growing field that embraces various disciplines, approaches and themes. It also allows both students and academic researchers to have the flexibility to either develop researches with their own focus and preference or to teaching assistants and instructors to select topics which are best suited to their teaching objectives and course content.

2. Historical Perspectives

Historical perspectives on popular music are focused on the early development of popular music in the late 20th and early 19th centuries. This was a time when different music styles were already beginning to show. While it is generally agreed, to quote Nicholas Cook, that year zero for popular music was the 20s and popular music as we know it now started in the 1950s, the real time scale for popular music or at least for the old and middle aged people of today, music from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, popular music started around 100 years ago. The music of the present differs, argues Philip Tagg, from music of the past in a number of ways. Firstly, there is more of it. Secondly, as you might expect, it is more widely disseminated today because of the internet and digital music distribution. However, it has always been the case, suggest Cook and Tagg, that popular music has been understood as essentially a matter of commerce or business, a matter of making money. For example, Tin Pan Alley, suggests Cook, a name given to the collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, turned out firewood for the parlor piano. However, while it is often assumed that the music business and especially popular music today is all about making money, as George McKay comments, he and other critics forget, on the one hand, about the marginal status of the majority of those working in the popular music industry and on the other, the possibilities for resistance to or as a result of the industry itself.

2.1. Evolution of popular music genres

The evolution of popular music is intrinsically linked to the development of its surrounding culture. Music of any genre acts as a form of release or expression that most people crave, and as the world continues to grow, so too does the music that comes out of it. Each genre seems to have its own defining era, where a certain sound or style is most apparent. For example, the 1950's was the birth of rock and roll, the 1960's was mostly dominated by the British invasion and the explosion of psychedelia, and the 1980's brought about a shift in popular music with the introduction of digital recording and synthesizers. These defining times often give way to new genres. For example, rock and roll was also responsible for the development of sub-genres such as pop music, punk rock, and alternative rock. This kind of evolving landscape is seen a lot through the 20th century as popular and consumer culture began to grow. From the Tin Pan Alley-esque pop of the early 1900's, to the grunge and hip-hop infused tracks of the late 1990's, it's clear that music and its cultural saturation have come a long way. With this in mind, it is important to remember that change and newness in music is not just a modern concept, but has been a key part of the industry throughout history. Whether it's the development of new instruments, changing technological capabilities, or a natural progression of taste, everything to do with music evolves in one way or another. Popular music has often been seen as being very self-centered because of the fact that there are so many different kinds of popular music and so many opportunities for success. Everyone has something to say and the music is varied and diverse, from large-scale pop attraction to small, local bands distributed by word of mouth. Music has been around for centuries, and it seems to contain the most emotional and beautiful aspects of life. Every era of music, from the Baroque period right the way through the Renaissance, the 1920's jazz era, or the thriving pop era of today, has its own special message in the notes, whether that be telling of hopes, struggles and successes, love and feelings, or simply the bittersweet joy of music itself.

2.2. Impact of popular music on society throughout history

The entire essence of music for me, I feel, is only about expression. It doesn't pertain to a lifestyle of separation and rebellion, which everyone attributes it to. Outlines of music and its results have been taught and scrutinized for several years. It was not until I got a certain project in my music appreciation class that I began to think about what role music actually plays in our lives and what effect it has on our society today. I've learned that music has several impacts on our society including education, emotion, and intelligence. Music has a way of surrounding us; it is what we are and what we hear. To know music is to know a whole population. It is said that reaching a certain amount of years in music is to make sure that we can comprehend what has been before us and what will come after us. What we so call "modern music" means music that is being written and recorded in our lifetime, as you may know it is called "contemporary". Popular music can serve not only as entertainment but also as a reflection and explanation of society, culture, and the lives of those who listen to it. However, like many other types of music, people disagree on what the definition of popular music is. It's unique in a way that it is without question the product of society, as society is a product of what appears in popular culture. It is popular music's goals are mainly to entertain and to make money. This is mainly different thing about popular music and any other type. For instance, classical music is known to focus on education and technique, rather than the commercialized product. I think that while we see music that is listened to by the masses in the present popular culture, we can also see how it has begun to shape and define our culture today. Music can help many different social and intellectual benefits to many different groups of our society and assist with the teaching and learning process. Music is being used by different types of people including children because it helps to improve the learning ability, increase happiness, and all that. Music and musicians have branched out the teaching into a more acceptable and laid-back type of form, to which the students accept it and perceive music as an art and something to look up to. Music has also been shown to have a very positive effect on people in today's society. Whether a person is sad or happy, music can trigger these emotions whenever that person listens to a certain type of music that can make others happy and lively. Maybe, the elderly people especially the ones who are in the old-folks homes would frequently listen to old tunes that were sung together with their friends or that were played in the times of good memories. It is because the nature of the brain and the body parts that music can and will make a difference to them. Music encourages music, and music can bring people together nowadays. In conclusion, people have to make a legitimate choice in what kind of music they want to listen to and for what reason - relaxation, meditation, or mere enjoyment. Every type of music has its specialties as they talk to different types of people and relate to specific cultures and experiences. Also, music is already being used as an aid for teaching and learning and provides many different benefits to society at large. However, it's still not too late to learn or to start discovering what one of the greatest inventions and innovations in the world has in store for us - that is, the knowledge of music.

2.3. Influence of popular musicians on cultural movements

Popular musicians, just like any other artists, have always strived to influence society through their creative acts. Whether musicians have the power to influence society as a whole and instigate some types of revolutions or cultural movements has been a point of debate. However, history definitely marks the influential power of popular musicians in various cultural movements. Music culture is a very prevalent phenomenon in today's contemporary world. In every movement for social change, you will find a trace of music in it. Popular musicians such as Bob Dylan and Marvin Gaye, amongst others, were notoriously known for their societal influence through their music. For example, Bob Marley's songs have been associated with people's rights in many African countries. "Get up, stand up, stand up for your right. Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight" - these are some of Bob Marley's famous lyrics from the song "Get Up, Stand Up". This song is greatly associated with political movements in many African countries, advocating for people's rights. The song was used to empower people to rise against injustices perpetuated by their governments. Such is the kind of influence that he had in society. The Caribbean music revolution was started by the introduction of reggae music by Bob Marley, which created a revolution of sound in the global music industry. Reggae music has been named a global music by UNESCO; a musical genre that is widely influential and the message arises above just music with its mission to provide a voice for the marginalized. Also, the punk rock revolution made popular by bands like the Ramones, the Clash, Sex Pistols, and the Romantics created a movement in the music industry compared to the earlier legends. With a song titled "Stand and Deliver", Adam and the Ants had the most recognized song in association with the punk movement. The song lyrics are associated with government exploitation, telling the poor to rob the rich in favor of the revolution. Popular musicians hold a strong legacy in society and they have been responsible for most important revolutions in the world. Just as the recent example of David Bowie, who has been posthumously honored with a New York City metro station "David Bowie" for his societal influence and legacy all over the world.

3. Cultural Analysis

Historically, the music industry was controlled by big record labels, but the new digital age has seen a shift in the way that music is produced and marketed. This could be something that you may wish to look at in your popular music essay. For example, the work of John Fiske, Professor of Communication Arts and Media Studies at the University of Wisconsin, could be used to show how digitalization is challenging the power of the major record companies. He has shown how new technologies are making it possible for the so-called "independent" music producers to escape the control of the major conglomerates who decide what is released and how. This could make a killer paragraph in an essay, and you could even make reference to it later on in the essay. It suggests that readers and writers should look at the new opportunities that digitalization can bring to the music world - has the internet revolution led to, for example, more "home-grown" musicians being able to "make it"? Such an interesting theory of John Fiske in an essay could also bring rather high marks.

3.1. Popular music and its reflection of social issues

Popular music has had a profound effect on American and world culture. This includes the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement, which helped to encourage a new genre of music, known as protest music. This kind of music led to music publishers being more open to backing music with a political message, and record executives, encouraged by the artists such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, were keener to record and produce these kinds of songs. The prevalence of political issues in American life, as well as consumerism, led to the development of commercial pop music and rock and roll. This era in music documented a period of freedom of expression, which was not the case in many other cultural art forms. The Civil Rights movement was responsible for many changes in American social and political life. One of the most famous moments in which music made an important statement about the Civil Rights movement was the festival at the Mississippi State University. There, David Dogan and Joe McDonald came up with the idea of writing a theme song for the festival. The famous protest song, "Samson and Delilah," was performed for the first time at the festival, in front of several thousand people. The popular 1967 version by the band, "The Grateful Dead," brought the song international fame and thus helped the band to exercise their right to free speech. In addition, the essence of '60s protest music was not just in its lyrical content, but also in its development of self-identity and individualization. Pop and rock music helped with notions of unity and self-expression. This sort of intimate relationship between popular music and culture can also be seen in more traditional forms of music, as music and socio-political phenomena are almost inseparable. And that is why it is always important, both academically and culturally, to take popular music seriously, as it is a reflection of human identity and an important part of society. Music can provide a more subtle testimony to the real attitudes that lie behind the social movements of an era. Specifically, the interaction between politics and popular music has in the past influenced historical change and development. It has been suggested that the Vietnam anti-war movement of the 1960s and '70s produced a musical expression even more fervently engaged against the war than Martin Luther King's own selection of "gospel songs" as themes for the Civil Rights campaign. The music known as the particular expression of both dissent and division was rock. The summary of the tragic events and anguish caused not just by war but by the indecision of the authorities and the complete discord in their opinion, a damage and an emotional void, and a tired disengagement by the soldiers caught the attention of many military men and civilians alike. The artists expressed their desire for changes and an end to the conflict did not compromise their message in the face of ignorance and sometimes violence by the authorities and the conservative right. The listeners for the genre, feeling the same way, started to change in certain respects. After all, courage, individual expression, and a quest for self-understanding were recurring themes throughout the years. Also, in the newly developed age of music appreciation, music stores and concert venues were given a new lease on life. In conjunction with the exploitation of the potential of the mass media, the government's newly found position, we can see a clear example of the relationship between music and wider cultural advancement taking place. Popular music was becoming bigger and more of an everyday occurrence as technology started to develop and music charts began to become an institution.

3.2. Examination of popular music's role in shaping identity

In examining popular music's role in shaping identity, we can focus on a few essential elements. First, it is essential to understand how identity is understood within critical theory and to explore how the various critical theories about identity are reflected in and shaped by popular music. Next, the racialization of music in the United States shapes the production of popular music and our understanding of identity in profound ways. Additionally, we also want to consider gender and sexuality in popular music and how those elements intersect with race to help shape our understandings of identity in the United States. One essay idea might be to focus specifically on how one type of critical theory of identity is reflected in and shaped by popular music. Another idea might be to think about the ways in which racialized music in the United States has been used as a form of resistance, and how that might speak to the ways in which music and identity formation are intertwined. Finally, it is also important to consider how popular music in today's day and age is given meaning in an increasingly digital and globalized world. If we continue to explore how popular music functions as a form of resistance and helping define and shape identity, a supplementary idea might be to think about the ways in which popular music both reflects and helps to build a gendered and racialized understanding of national identity. In the modernizing time of the internet and digital production and dissemination, we can see how deviations in one form of critical resistance in music can result in the flowering of entirely new forms of popular music that call into question our understandings of identity and how we can effectively resist hegemonic forms of power. Finally, it is important to see and consider the algorithms and political economies which help to decide what popular music becomes widely supported, and therefore, influential verses what popular music is pushed to the wayside. These questions of power, authority, and how systems of music production and dissemination can have a real impact on our understandings of just whose musical expressions and identities are seen as valid. These four ideas help to show that there are many ways in which popular music and the study of popular music can help us to dig into and understand how our identities are formed, regulated, and changed over time. The popularity of and a potential success of each of these topics helps to illuminate a field that is constantly being shaped and developed. While it is much easier to study how critics and scholars of popular music have focused on explorations of music and identity in that critical tradition, the other three ideas help to show that there are many pathways towards promising and rigorous investigations of both popular music and identity as a subject worth contemplation. Such a research topic will provide numerous possibilities for further work and future scholarship.

3.3. Cross-cultural influences in popular music

Pop and rock music has come to us from the United States. If you ask someone to name a few singers or bands from America, their first thoughts would probably be of people like Michael Jackson and Bon Jovi. We associate these types of music with the US, and it's true that they both started off there. However, as they've become popular in other countries as well, we can see that British and Canadian bands have shaken up the North American-dominated world of pop, rock, and country too. Shania Twain, for example, is from Canada, as are the bands Nickelback and Arcade Fire. Some famous British bands and musicians include The Beatles, Adele, Oasis and Amy Winehouse. Interestingly, soul and jazz are also often thought of as being quintessentially American genres; however, both of these types of music have a strong following in the UK - and British people are all too happy to claim any British acts as their own. Clearly, the British and Americans have been heavily influencing each other in terms of popular music for a long time. Looking at jazz and soul, these genres both have a rich history in North America, and they have been a formative part of both countries' cultural heritages. However, rather than staying as specifically American types of music, people in the UK have embraced and developed these styles too. When you consider that British bands and singers such as Dusty Springfield, Amy Winehouse and Adele have been influenced by soul and jazz, and have in turn turned the sounds into something that's become popular worldwide, you start to appreciate just how varied the landscape of music has become. Nowadays, it's easier than ever for people in one country to listen to music from another. This ability for us to get to, and enjoy, different types of music is called access. Because of modern technology, access to music from around the world has been soaring over the years. This has allowed more and more of us to hear and be influenced by music that comes from outside of our home countries. We're a lot more likely to come across what we might consider to be different types of music as well. For example, if you're a fan of pop music, it's expected that you've heard songs from foreign bands or singers that might not have reached the same level of fame in your country. Thanks to things like online streaming and digital music libraries, we now have the chance to enjoy and be influenced by all sorts of music, whether that's something from halfway across the world or from our next-door neighbors.

3.4. Popular music as a form of cultural resistance

Popular music has been a part of American culture for several decades. It reflects the political and social issues present in society. Popular music has evolved tremendously over the years with the advent of technology and the change in musical style. Music is performed and enjoyed by not only those who create it, but by the masses who immerse themselves in it. Popular music has long been a way for musicians to comment on political or social ills; this practice can be traced back to the 1960s. The song "Respect" by Aretha Franklin was a rallying call for the burgeoning feminist movement in the late 1960s, highlighting what can be achieved by using popular music as a cultural carrot. Jennifer Lopez's "Let's Get Loud" is a song that is often used in a similar output to "Gloria" in as much as it is seen as a way for Latina women to express a cultural identity and promotional force. The song begins and ends with a chant: "Coming up, coming up, coming up, turn the music up, turn the music up." Music also has the unique ability to raise awareness and create change at both local and international levels. For example, Beyonce's song, "Run the World (Girls)", was released in 2011 and has been considered a powerful anthem of the feminist movement. Beyonce has said that the song is dedicated to women all around the world and if anything is to change, "we have to feel it, we have to see it, and we have to be it". This highlights the unique capability that popular music gives an artist - the ability to spread a message to a multitude of different people. With the rise of digital music, artists' visibilities and fan bases can expand across several continents with continual global connectivity. Through the power of social media, in particular, artists are able to spread messages of resistance on a truly international scale. An example of this would be Run the Jewels' social media campaign in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement. By utilizing the free and open platform of Twitter as well as wearing specially designed t-shirts during performances, this modern hip-hop duo have then reached out to not just the United States but to a global community of people advocating for the end of systematic discrimination and violence towards African Americans. They worked with fans to change their profile picture to the group's distinctive logo, creating a recognizable sign of solidarity across the digital community as - within a matter of weeks - the now iconic clenched fist logo began to rapidly populate newsfeeds. Run the Jewels demonstrated that support for the "Black Lives Matter" movement does not have to manifest through violence or disorder, but that strength can be drawn from cultivating unity and control with peace and determination. The essay "65 Popular Music Essay Topic Ideas & Examples" covers a wide range of topics related to popular music. It begins with an introduction that discusses the importance of studying popular music and provides an overview of the essay topics. The historical perspectives section explores the evolution of popular music genres, the impact of popular music on society throughout history, and the influence of popular musicians on cultural movements. The cultural analysis section examines how popular music reflects social issues, shapes identity, and incorporates cross-cultural influences. It also explores popular music as a form of cultural resistance. Overall, this essay provides a comprehensive exploration of various aspects of popular music and its significance in society.

4. Contemporary Issues

In contemporary society, popular music is considered to be technology driven. With digitalization and the increase in technology, popular music has seen a shift from the monolithic to the omni-chronic: from physical, tangible products such as vinyl records, to an age in which 'music' is akin to a form of information, more immaterial than material. As Steve Jones put it, "music is always present, time is immaterial, and users select spatial and temporal location as they wish." This change has encouraged the use of new technology not only in the production of music, but also in its consumption. For example, Music Sequencer Software, such as GarageBand, allows for people to produce music at home and therefore are not restricted to the recording identities of studios. Through the use of 'copy and paste', users are freed from temporal restrictions and music can be easily manipulated to create new structures and variations. Finally, the ability to synthesize different instruments virtually permits users to have musical control beyond access to particular physical instruments or playing abilities. Ergo, the progressive digitalization of every aspect within music creation makes music become dematerialized and ultimately, the product. Coupled with advances in social media and the increasing influence of the internet, another significant aspect of technology on popular music is the distribution of music in the digital age. For instance, social media marketing has become a key feature in the success of artists. With platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, musicians have the ability to cost-effectively reach large audiences, diminishing the traditional use of large, commercial third-party companies to advertise their work. Not only does this allow for exposure and success for even obscure artists who rely particularly on their online 'fan base', but it also introduces the potential to change the conglomerate structure of record companies. The use of technology in music consumption entwines the consumers' online identity with what they are listening to, commenting, and sharing. For example, websites such as 'Last.fm' allow for music to be broadcasted live over the internet by the user. Likewise, previous songs listened to can be recorded and displayed on user profiles, which creates a musical identity. By endorsing technology and using internet resources, Last.fm does not only rely on the globalization of music interests to team together a mass communal redefinition of music-label terminology, but through the ability to link users to music profiles that are playing the same song, radio stations can be 'on air' twenty-four hours a day. Such a feature circumvents standard radio-listening constraints and as a result, the perception of musical influence has moved from the mainstream and genre-based station management to the genuine, grounded opinions of the public.

4.1. Effects of technology on the production and consumption of popular music

The production, distribution, and consumption of music have been revolutionized by digital technology. Software programs have ushered in a wave of 'remix' and 'mash-up' culture, where musicians and fans alike can create new pieces of music by altering existing tracks. Corporations and music businesses have sought to efficiently transmit music over the internet as digitization allows for a shift away from physical products like CDs and vinyl records, towards a music culture based on virtual platforms and downloads. Concerts and festivals have received a huge boost in popularity with the advances in live music technology, which has brought about innovations in sound and visual systems as well as management aspects such as ticketing and promotion. On the other hand, studies have found that a digital 'surface skimming' culture has resulted from the free access that the internet provides. This is where consumers listen to parts of songs and albums through internet radio, media player recommendations, or music streaming websites, instead of fully engaging with the music. These trends can be attributed to the rise in mobile technology, which has enabled music to be shared amongst peers much more effectively. From studies investigating the use of 'iPod' technologies and other handheld devices, it is now widely understood that such platforms have led to a marked shift away from home-based stereo systems and towards more personalized listening patterns. The increasing ease at which such devices are packed with thousands of music tracks and taken on the move, whether in day-to-day life or on holiday, has arguably contributed to the rise of the aforementioned surface listening culture. As a result, musicians and producers can now access music software, which enables individuals to record, edit, and mix their own music tracks in a domestic environment, without the need for expensive studio time. This has subsequently allowed thousands of new artist-made musicians to establish themselves using internet technology and platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, against the historically challenging process of securing a recording contract from a big label company. In addition, the range and styles of popular music are changing, which has been recognized by the development of new academic approaches such as 'music informatics' and 'music psychology'. These disciplines focus on the empirical exploration of music consumption habits. For example, a study investigating the rise of portable technology and music listening habits around London displayed geo-mapped data that plotted high-density music player usage amongst commuters. Such a scientifically informed approach to evaluating how technology changes the way that we engage with music highlights how popular music researchers have embraced the digital age as a means of understanding cultural trends.

4.2. Role of popular music in the digital age

Firstly, I can show the reality and the difficult and strong media trends that are affecting the digital age in the music industry. The first thing that comes into our mind when we talk about digital music is YouTube and SoundCloud. YouTube is the biggest music destination in the world, which gives independent artists opportunities to earn revenue and use the YouTube Partner Program. After that, the essay will then talk about the online music space that is crowded and it's quite difficult to get noticed within independent musicians and self-releasing artists. Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music are currently the top three streaming services in the market today. However, I can still argue and give a comparison in terms of cost and benefits of each streaming service for different users such as students, family members, and a normal adult. But anyway, all three streaming services work and give benefits to artists by offering different but reasonable revenue through each platform. The next thing that I can bring up is social media. Social media has an utmost important tool that can help artists and record labels to learn and understand more about their fans. By using the analytics tools, artists and label staff can able to analyze how and why certain fans are interacting with your music and know how to improve the music or even better. A highlight of the internet, which sometimes works against the music industry, is because the music is fully mostly available to download or to stream online. For instance, "piracy" is the major problem and threat in the music industry and is the result of a difference in cost. Because the internet was the joy of the introduction that can actually share and preview music across the world with no cost at all. Therefore, unlawful copying of music is called music piracy. It's having a great toll on the music business, causing a lot of people to lose their job and can result in many overworked musicians. When people download music and don't pay, artists lose money for the work that they have created. However, digital music nowadays is much easier to move, shift, edit, and sequence the music when comparing to old days or previous time which is cassette tapes and CDs. Therefore, the advances in digital music recording technology contribute to the variety of music and the way music sounds today. Creative and other innovative ways of music-makers can produce new sounds or composing different kinds of melody or rhythm by using digital music-making and composing software. As a result, it leads to music practices, music published, and approaches to the marketing of music becoming varied, fragmented, and more diverse.

4.3. Commercialization and commodification of popular music

To begin with, the term commercialization of popular music can be defined as the process of introducing a new music into the market. This definition encompasses a wide variety of different music, and all of them are happy with the fact that it is widespread and popular. What happens is that a certain genre of music somehow becomes viable to some music industries and so, they just decide to promote it to higher levels. On the other hand, commodification of music is the process of turning something into a product that can be bought and sold. In this approach, music is portrayed and treated as something which can be turned into money in the music industry. Furthermore, the thing that we actually buy and sell might not be the music itself but the image and characteristics to which a certain type of music is given. For instance, pop music is seen and portrayed to be the "in-trend" music where all teenagers will listen to; heavy metal will have a tag of "music for rebels" and so on. There are a few key issues related to the topic of commercialization and commodification of popular music. First of all, the definition of music itself may be distorted. As commercialization and commodification of popular music goes on the way, music is now created to suit the market demands. Songwriters or artists might even start to write a song by just thinking what to do in certain parts of the song in order to create a good 30 seconds commercial ringtone and completely lost the theme of the song. On the other hand, due to the anthropocene of commercialization and commodification of popular music, even our identity is now associated with music. For instance, the type of food we eat, the way we dress, where we go for leisure time and so on are all related to the type of favorite music that we are into. We are being branded by the music that we are into. This happens when music is transformed to a stage where it is just a product to generate lucrative returns in the music and entertainment industry. Lastly, traditional music is under threat as the popular culture spreads globally. With the emerging of globalized culture popping up in every corner of the world, the world becomes smaller in the sense that in every part of the world, there will be shop lots, advertisements, or even radio stations which play pop music that actually comes from cosmo and when people listen to them day after day, it will become a norm that these pop music is being accepted. Due to the lucrative characteristic of pop music in the music and entertainment industry, the traditional music - which is the root and the unique identity for a certain culture is slowly being abolished just to pave way for booming of pop music industry. All these issues are highly related and result in each other due to the ongoing anthropocene of commercialization and commodification of popular music.

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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Pop Music — The Influence of Pop Music: An Argumentative Exploration

The Influence of Pop Music: an Argumentative Exploration

• Categories: Music Industry Pop Music

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Published: Sep 5, 2023

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Shaping cultural identities, shaping the music industry, debate on artistic merit, conclusion: navigating pop music's impact.

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Blog > Essay Advice , Personal Statement > How to Write a Great College Essay About Music (with examples)

How to Write a Great College Essay About Music (with examples)

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Alex McNeil, MA Admissions Consultant

Key Takeaway

Ask any admissions officer if they’ve read a college essay about music, and they’ll definitely say yes. Between music extracurriculars and academic interests in music, it’s is one of the most common college essay topics.

So does that mean that you shouldn’t write your college essay about music?

Not necessarily. But as with any common college essay topic, some approaches are better than others.

Let’s get into it.

Why you should (and shouldn’t) write your Common App essay about music

As we explained in our Stanford Items exercise , writing your college essay on a common topic isn’t off-limits. In fact, most college essays share common topics and themes. Trying to find a completely unique, never-been-done-before topic is almost impossible. And writing about a quirky topic in hopes of coming across as unique usually backfires.

In other words, it’s likely that you’ll write about the same topic as someone else.

The problem arises, however, when you write about a common topic in a cliche way . Cliches are always a danger in college essays, but in especially college essay topics that tend to surface again and again.

To avoid cliches, your college essay about music needs to be deeply personal, specific, and meaningful. You’ll want to let go of any over-generalizations or truisms and focus on the details of your own story.

Because you’ll need to write meaningfully and vulnerably, you should only write your college essay about music if you have something genuine and significant to say.

The Best Ways to Approach Your College Essay about Music

College essays about music aren’t off the table, but you should be thoughtful in how you write about them. The following two approaches will help you avoid cliches and find an authentic, meaningful story that fulfills all the requirements of a personal statement .

Writing about music as an academic interest

If you’re interested in studying music in college, then you can consider writing your college essay about music as an academic interest. A college essay about your academic interest in music can show fantastic intellectual fit with a school.

Let’s say you want to study music theory or composition. You might write about a topic you find compelling, a problem you’ve solved, or even a recounting of your journey becoming interested in the subject.

Or maybe you’re an aspiring performer planning on studying music performance. As an admissions officer, I read outstanding essays about students performing their favorite pieces, creating emotional music projects, and teaching lessons to young children.

No matter your topic, your goal with this approach is to show an intellectual spark, a curiosity and passion that will demonstrate to your admissions officers that you’ll be a great addition to the music community on their campuses.

Writing poignantly about a deeply meaningful extracurricular

The previous approach is great if you want to study music, but what if music is just an extracurricular passion of yours? Don’t worry—you can still write about it.

In that case, the best way is to focus on meaning. Remember: personal statements should be deeply-meaningful reflections on your personal strengths.

To start, reflect on your music extracurricular. Is it playing guitar in a band? Playing trombone in your school’s symphony? Learning piano from your grandma? How your love of poetry turned into a love of songwriting?

Next, think about what strengths you have to showcase. If you play guitar in a band, maybe you want to highlight your collaborative spirit. If you love poetry and songwriting, perhaps you focus on your creativity.

Writing about your love of music in a way that draws upon your strengths will make sure that your Common App essay avoids the following two approaches and gives admissions officers a reason to admit you.

Approaches to Avoid

While the following two approaches aren’t necessarily bad, they are the most cliche ways of approaching a college essay about music. You might want to consider avoiding them.

An inauthentic tale of triumph

Let me tell you a cliche story.

When I was in fourth grade, I decided to join the school orchestra. I found it exceedingly difficult at first. No matter how hard I tried, I never could seem to place my fingers correctly on the fingerboard. Every sound I made mimicked a screeching cat. But I decided not to give up. I practiced every day after school and on the weekends. By the time I was in ninth grade, I had made it into my high school’s top orchestra.

Is that a lovely story? Yes, absolutely. Is it hearty enough for a college essay? No. While it tells a good narrative of growth and progress, it remains on the surface of the writer’s life. It comes across as a convenient way to brag about your strengths instead of exploring them in a genuine way. In this example, the story also focuses on events that happened way too far in the past.

A song that changed your life

This approach is by far the most common cliche in college essays about music. We’ve all been there: a favorite song that transports you to a moment in your life whenever you hear it. It makes sense that you’d want to write about yours.

But there’s a problem with this approach. Too often, it reads as trite or unoriginal, and the end result usually doesn’t say much about the writer. And when it does, the message an admissions officer gets doesn’t typically give them any more reason to admit you. Since you want your college essay to be meaningful, even vulnerable, and strengths-based, you’re better off choosing another topic that better speaks to who you are.

Key Takeaways + Examples

College essays about music aren’t for everyone. But when you get it right, you can strike the perfect chord with admissions officers (you’re welcome for the pun).

As you go, dig deep, find something genuinely personal, and try to avoid the most common and cliche ways of approaching the topic.

Want to see some examples of college essays about music before you get started? Check out our examples, The Time Machine and The Band .

Liked that? Try this next.

The Incredible Power of a Cohesive College Application

How to Write a College Essay (Exercises + Examples)

20 College Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions Officers)

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Pop Music (Essay Sample) 2023

Table of Contents

How Can I Get Essay For Free and Is it realistic to expect a low-cost, High-Quality Essay from a Cheap Paper Writing Service ?

Pop music is always around us. From the term itself, “pop” as in popular. These are the songs we hear daily, wherever they go. These are the ones that reach the top charts. Yet aside from the technical definition of being popular, the term pop is already considered as a quality of music. You can hear some people say “that song sounds so pop” which means that the song has a quality to it that may be upbeat or fun.

Pop music, whether people listen to it indirectly or not, is always on our minds. These are the tunes that we usually carry in our head that keep on playing even it was already hours after hearing it on the radio. The thing about pop music is the people who sing it. In the entertainment world, we have artists that are known to be icons of pop. Their images are the first one we imagine when we think of pop music. These personalities are of course branded to be easy on both the eyes and the ears. There are some icons who maintain their identities throughout many decades and some are just one hit wonders that we continue to involuntarily sing to every day.

Popular music is a part of popular culture. Popular culture is built on the interests of the people that is also linked on how it becomes a source of profit. Pop icons are known to be the richest in the industry because of how they focus on appearing on mainstream media. The quality of their music is easily appreciated by all which is why their album sales are always on the rise. At the end of the day, these pop icons are icons we always remember because pop music has the sense of being memorable.

The thing that is easy to notice is the themes that pop songs carry. The songs are diverse at best but some may have content that stand out among the rest. Love songs become easily famous because of the well thought lyrics and gentle melody. Some songs by boy bands get so famous because of the boy bands themselves. The band becomes an instrument in selling their own music and craft. People build great fan bases that become a space where people with the same interests meet. There are those who are called fan boys and fan girls that dedicate a big chunk of their lives in knowing the lives of those that they idolize. For every famous icon, there is a fan base that also serves as a support group for that artist. Aside from this, there are also pop songs that become controversial. It is because of the content or the image of the artist itself. There was a time that a song sparked outrage from the community. Apparently, the song was talking about non-consent among relationships and even the artist was no apologetic for it. One thing that is easy to remember in the pop music industry is that the artist and his work cannot be easily separated. The artist is a performer which is why he would always be subject to scrutiny.

All in all, popular music is not a bad thing. Despite it not being a cup of tea for everyone, the attention that is focused on it is undeniable. Pop music traverses all genres and forms of music as well as media. It is also translated in film and other things that we witness day by day. As artists continue to perform, pop music would always have its image that tries to be both pleasing and flashy in order to be easily remembered by all.a

Essay on Music for Students and Children

500+ words essay on music.

Music is a vital part of different moments of human life. It spreads happiness and joy in a person’s life. Music is the soul of life and gives immense peace to us. In the words of William Shakespeare, “If music is the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.” Thus, Music helps us in connecting with our souls or real self.

What is Music?

Music is a pleasant sound which is a combination of melodies and harmony and which soothes you. Music may also refer to the art of composing such pleasant sounds with the help of the various musical instruments. A person who knows music is a Musician.

The music consists of Sargam, Ragas, Taals, etc. Music is not only what is composed of men but also which exists in nature. Have you ever heard the sound of a waterfall or a flowing river ? Could you hear music there? Thus, everything in harmony has music. Here, I would like to quote a line by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the greatest musicians, “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.”

Importance of Music:

Music has great qualities of healing a person emotionally and mentally. Music is a form of meditation. While composing or listening music ones tends to forget all his worries, sorrows and pains. But, in order to appreciate good music, we need to cultivate our musical taste. It can be cited that in the Dwapar Yug, the Gopis would get mesmerized with the music that flowed from Lord Krishna’s flute. They would surrender themselves to Him. Also, the research has proved that the plants which hear the Music grow at a faster rate in comparison to the others.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Magical Powers of Music:

It has the power to cure diseases such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. The power of Music can be testified by the legends about Tansen of his bringing the rains by singing Raag Megh Malhar and lighting lamps by Raga Deepak. It also helps in improving the concentration and is thus of great help to the students.

Conclusion:

Music is the essence of life. Everything that has rhythm has music. Our breathing also has a rhythm. Thus, we can say that there is music in every human being or a living creature. Music has the ability to convey all sorts of emotions to people. Music is also a very powerful means to connect with God. We can conclude that Music is the purest form of worship of God and to connect with our soul.

FAQs on Essay on Music:

Q.1. Why is Music known as the Universal Language?

Ans.1. Music is known as the Universal language because it knows no boundaries. It flows freely beyond the barriers of language, religion, country, etc. Anybody can enjoy music irrespective of his age.

Q.2. What are the various styles of Music in India?

Ans.2. India is a country of diversities. Thus, it has numerous styles of music. Some of them are Classical, Pop, Ghazals, Bhajans, Carnatic, Folk, Khyal, Thumri, Qawwali, Bhangra, Drupad, Dadra, Dhamar, Bandish, Baithak Gana, Sufi, Indo Jazz, Odissi, Tarana, Sugama Sangeet, Bhavageet, etc.

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• Open access
• Published: 28 March 2024

Song lyrics have become simpler and more repetitive over the last five decades

• Emilia Parada-Cabaleiro 2   na1 ,
• Maximilian Mayerl 4   na1 ,
• Stefan Brandl 3 ,
• Marcin Skowron 5 ,
• Markus Schedl 1 , 3 ,
• Elisabeth Lex 6 &
• Eva Zangerle 4  

Scientific Reports volume  14 , Article number:  5531 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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• Computational science
• Computer science

Music is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, and lyrics play an integral role when we listen to music. The complex relationships between lyrical content, its temporal evolution over the last decades, and genre-specific variations, however, are yet to be fully understood. In this work, we investigate the dynamics of English lyrics of Western, popular music over five decades and five genres, using a wide set of lyrics descriptors, including lyrical complexity, structure, emotion, and popularity. We find that pop music lyrics have become simpler and easier to comprehend over time: not only does the lexical complexity of lyrics decrease (for instance, captured by vocabulary richness or readability of lyrics), but we also observe that the structural complexity (for instance, the repetitiveness of lyrics) has decreased. In addition, we confirm previous analyses showing that the emotion described by lyrics has become more negative and that lyrics have become more personal over the last five decades. Finally, a comparison of lyrics view counts and listening counts shows that when it comes to the listeners’ interest in lyrics, for instance, rock fans mostly enjoy lyrics from older songs; country fans are more interested in new songs’ lyrics.

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Introduction

We are surrounded by music every day; it is pervasive in today’s society 1 and serves many functions. For instance, people listen to music to relieve boredom, fill uncomfortable silences, foster social cohesion and communication, or regulate their emotions 2 , 3 , 4 . When it comes to listeners liking or disliking a track, the most salient components of music, alongside the ability of a song to evoke emotion and the singing voice, are a song’s lyrics 5 . Likewise, the interplay between melody and lyrics is imperative as lyrics have been shown to influence the emotional valence of music; particularly, lyrics can enhance the negative emotion in angry and sad music 6 . Music containing lyrics has also been shown to activate different regions in the brain compared to music without lyrics 7 .

Seen from a different angle, lyrics can be considered a form of literary work 8 . Usually written in verse form, lyrics use poetic devices such as rhyme, repetition, metaphors, and imagery 9 , and hence can be considered similar to poems 8 . This is also showcased by Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Prize in literature in 2016 “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition” 10 . Just as literature can be considered a portrayal of society, lyrics also provide a reflection of a society’s shifting norms, emotions, and values over time 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 .

To this end, understanding trends in the lyrical content of music has gained importance in recent years: computational descriptors of lyrics have been leveraged to uncover and describe differences between songs with respect to genre 16 , 17 , or to analyze temporal changes of lyrics descriptors 11 , 17 , 18 . Lyrical differences between genres have been identified by Schedl in terms of repetitiveness (rhythm & blues (R&B) music having the most repetitive lyrics and heavy metal having the least repetitive lyrics) and readability (rap music being hardest to comprehend, punk and blues being easiest) 16 . In a study of 1879 unique songs over three years (2014–2016) across seven major genres (Christian, country, dance, pop, rap, rock, and R&B), Berger and Packard 19 find that songs with lyrics that are topically more differentiated from its genre are more popular in terms of their position in the Billboard digital download rankings. Kim et al. 20 use four sets of features extracted from song lyrics and one set of audio features extracted from the audio signal for the tasks of genre recognition, music recommendation, and music auto-tagging. They find that while the audio features show the largest and most consistent effect sizes, linguistic and psychology inventory features also show consistent contributions in the investigated tasks.

Studies investigating the temporal evolution of lyrics predominantly focus on tracing emotional cues over the years. For instance, Dodds et al. 17 identify a downward trend in the average valence of song lyrics from 1961 to 2007. Napier and Shamir 21 investigated the change in sentiment of the lyrics of 6150 Billboard 100 songs from 1951 through 2016. They find that positive sentiments (e.g., joy or confidence) have decreased, while negative sentiments (e.g., anger, disgust, or sadness) have increased. Brand et al. 13 use two datasets containing lyrics of 4913 and 159,015 pop songs, spanning from 1965 to 2015, to investigate the proliferation of negatively valenced emotional lyrical content. They find that the proliferation can partly be attributed to content bias (charts tend to favor negative lyrics), and partly to cultural transmission biases (e. g., success or prestige bias, where best-selling songs or artists are copied). Investigating the lyrics of the 10 most popular songs from the US Hot 100 year-end charts between 1980 and 2007, DeWall et al. 18 find that words related to oneself (e.g., me or mine) and words pointing to antisocial behavior (e.g., hate or kill) increased while words related to social interactions (e.g., talk or mate) and positive emotions (e.g., love or nice) decreased over time.

Alongside changes in emotional cues, Varnum et al. 11 find that the simplicity of lyrics in pop music increased over six decades (1958–2016). Similarly, Choi et al. 9 study the evolution of lyrical complexity. They particularly investigate the concreteness of lyrics (concreteness describes whether a word refers to a concrete or abstract concept) as it has been shown to correlate with readability and find that concreteness increased over the last four decades. Furthermore, there is also a body of research investigating the evolution of lyrical content (i.e., so-called themes). For instance, Christenson et al. 22 analyzed the evolution of themes in the U.S. Billboard top-40 singles from 1960 to 2010. They find that the fraction of lyrics describing relationships in romantic terms did not change. However, the fraction of sex-related aspects of relationships substantially increased.

Studies on the temporal evolution of music have also looked into temporal changes of acoustic descriptors , beyond lyrics. Interiano et al. 23 investigate acoustic descriptors of 500,000 songs from 1985 to 2015. They discover a downward trend in “happiness” and “brightness”, as well as a slight upward trend in “sadness”. They also correlate these descriptors with success and find that successful songs exhibit distinct dynamics. In particular, they tend to be “happier”, more “party-like”, and less “relaxed” than others.

Despite previous efforts to understand the functions, purposes, evolution, and predictive qualities of lyrics, there still exists a research gap in terms of uncovering the complete picture of the complex relationships between descriptors of lyrical content, their variations between genres, and their temporal evolution over the last decades. Earlier studies focused on specific descriptors, genres, or timeframes, and most commonly investigated smaller datasets. In this paper, we investigate the (joint) evolution of the complexity of lyrics, their emotion, and the corresponding song’s popularity based on a large dataset of English, Western, popular music spanning five decades, a wide variety of lyrics descriptors, and multiple musical genres. We measure the popularity of tracks and lyrics, where we distinguish between the listening count, i. e.,  the number of listening events since the start of the platform, and the lyrics view count, i. e.,  the number of views of lyrics on the Genius platform ( https://genius.com ). Thereby, we investigate the following research questions in this paper: (RQ1) Which trends can we observe concerning pop music lyrics across the last 50 years, drawing on multifaceted lyrics descriptors? We expect that descriptors that correlate more strongly with the release year lead to better-performing regression models. (RQ2) Which role does the popularity of songs and lyrics play in this scenario? We expect that lyric views vary across genres, and these variations can be attributed to changes in lyrics over time.

Our exploratory study differs from existing studies in several regards: (1) we provide the first joint analysis of the evolution of multiple lyrics descriptors and popularity, (2) we investigate a multitude of lyrics descriptors capturing lyrical complexity, structure, and emotion, (3) we provide an in-depth analysis of these descriptors’ evolution, not only over time but focusing on different genres , and (4) we leverage a substantially larger dataset than most existing works.

For our analyses, we create a dataset containing 353,320 English song lyrics from the Genius platform ( https://genius.com/ ), spanning five decades (1970–2020) in terms of the songs’ release years. Based on this collection of lyrics, we extract a wide variety of lyrics’ descriptors and popularity data for each song. In particular, we extract lexical, linguistic, structural, rhyme, emotion, and complexity descriptors and focus on five genres: rap, country, pop, R&B, and rock, as these are the most popular genres according to the widely used music streaming platform last.fm ( https://www.last.fm/ ) 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , disregarding genres for which lyrics are less frequent (e. g., jazz and classical music). Our analysis is based on two complementary analyses, as shown in Fig. 1 . In our first analysis, we are interested in the evolution of pop music lyrics and the impact of descriptors in a regression task (i.e., we aim to find the predictors that are best suited to model a linear trend in a release year regression task). The second set of analyses investigates the relationship between lyrics view count, descriptors, and corresponding songs’ release year in a multiple linear regression analysis. Assessing lyrics’ view count, besides the typically analyzed measure listening play count, enables us to take into account another perspective of music popularity. In particular, lyrics’ view count allows us to expressively investigate the role played by lyrics in music consumption patterns over time (through the songs’ release year) as well as to relate such patterns with the lyrics characteristics (through the lyrics’ descriptors). Note that while listening play counts do not give any information about a listener’s interest in the lyrics, lyrics’ view count is a clear indicator of lyrics’ importance, which might not necessarily relate to a musical genre’s general popularity.

Overview of data and analyses performed. Based on a wide variety of descriptors capturing the lyrical characteristics from listening data and lyrics content, we perform two analyses. Analyses 1 identifies descriptors that are characteristic of the release year and genre. Analyses 2 investigates the relationship between the identified lyrics descriptors, popularity (listening counts and lyrics view counts), and release year.

Basic dataset and lyrics acquisition

For gathering song lyrics, we rely on the LFM-2b dataset 28 ( http://www.cp.jku.at/datasets/LFM-2b ) of listening events by last.fm users, since it is one of the largest publicly available datasets of music listening data. Last.fm is an online social network and streaming platform for music, where users can opt-in to share their listening data. It provides various connectors to other services, including Spotify, Deezer, Pandora, iTunes, and YouTube, through which users can share on last.fm what they are listening to on other platforms ( https://www.last.fm/about/trackmymusic ). While last.fm services are globally available, their user base is unevenly distributed geographically, with a strong bias towards the United States, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, and Brazil. In fact, an analysis of a representative subset of last.fm users found that the users from these six countries comprise more than half of last.fm’s total user base 29 .

The LFM-2b dataset contains more than two billion listening records and more than fifty million songs by more than five million artists. We enrich the dataset with information about songs’ release year, genre, lyrics, and popularity information. For quantifying the popularity of tracks and lyrics, we distinguish between the listening count, i. e.,  the number of listening events in the LFM-2b dataset , and lyrics view count, i. e.,  the number of views of lyrics on the Genius platform ( https://genius.com ). Release year, genre information, and lyrics are obtained from the Genius platform. Genres are expressed by one primary genre and arbitrarily many additional genre tags. Lyrics on the Genius platform can be added by registered members and undergo an editorial process for quality checks. We use the polyglot package ( https://polyglot.readthedocs.io/ ) to automatically infer the language of the lyrics and consider only English lyrics. Adopting this procedure, we ultimately obtain complete information for 582,759 songs.

Lyrics style and emotion descriptors

Following the lines of previous research in the field of lyrics analysis 30 , 31 , 32 , we characterize lyrics based on stylistic (including descriptors of lexical, complexity, structure, and rhyme characteristics) and emotion descriptors. Lexical descriptors include, for instance, unique token ratio, repeated token ratio, pronoun frequency, line count, or punctuation counts, but also measures of lexical diversity 33 , 34 as these have been shown to be well-suited markers for textual style 35 . To quantify the diversity of lyrics, we compute the compression rate 36 , effectively capturing the repetitiveness of lyrics and several diversity measures. For structural descriptors of lyrics, we utilize the descriptors identified by Malheiro et al. 37 , which, for instance, include the number of times the chorus is repeated, the number of verses and choruses, and the alternation pattern of verse and chorus. For descriptors that capture rhymes contained in lyrics, we extract, for instance, the number of subsequent pairs of rhyming lines (i. e., clerihews), alternating rhymes, nested rhymes, or alliterations, but also rely on general descriptors such as the fraction of rhyming lyrics 30 as these have been shown to be characteristic for the style of lyrics 30 . For measuring readability, we use standard measures like the number of difficult words, or Flesch’s Reading Ease formula 38 . Furthermore, we extract emotional descriptors from lyrics by applying the widely used Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) dictionary 39 , which has also been applied to lyrics analyses 18 , 37 , 40 . We provide a complete list of all descriptors, including a short description and further information about how the descriptors are extracted in Table 1 .

Statistical analyses

Figure 1 provides an overview of the methodological framework used for the analyses presented. The two analyses conducted aim to (1)  investigate the evolution of descriptors over five decades by performing a release year regression task to identify the importance of descriptors, and (2)  investigate the interplay of lyrics descriptors, release year, and lyrics view count by performing a regression analysis on a dataset containing 12,000 songs, balanced for both genres and release years. The combination of these two analyses provides us with complementary findings; while the first analysis uses the entirety of our collected dataset and therefore derives general findings on descriptor importance, the second analysis, performed on a carefully balanced, reduced dataset, provides us with a more in-depth analysis on the strength of relationships of the individual lyrics and popularity descriptors and temporal aspects.

Analysis 1: evolution of descriptors and descriptor importance

In this analysis, we investigate which descriptors are most strongly correlated with the release year of a song. We expect that descriptors that correlate more strongly with the release year lead to better-performing regression models. Therefore, we train a release year regressor for each of the five genres. We are mostly interested in determining each descriptor’s importance, thereby identifying the descriptors that are most effective at predicting a linear trend across release years.

First, we perform z-score normalization of the descriptors. Subsequently, we remove multicollinear descriptors using the variance inflation factor (VIF). Here, we iteratively remove descriptors that exhibited a VIF higher than 5 until all of the remaining descriptors have a VIF lower than 5 (as also performed in Analysis 2). Preliminary analyses showed that the data associated with individual descriptors are heteroscedastic (i.e., the variance is not homogenous, but dependent on the release year). To overcome this bias, we use Huber’s M regressor 41 , a widely used robust linear regressor.

Notably, we perform these analyses on all available songs for the five genres for which we can successfully extract all descriptors (totaling to 353,320 songs). For each genre, we train the regression model and analyze the model’s performance and the computed regression coefficients to identify the most important descriptors for determining the release year of the songs. The models for this analysis are built in Python, using the statsmodels package 42 (via the Robust Linear Models ( RLM ) class; statsmodels version 0.14). The plots in Fig. 2 are generated using the Matplotlib library 43 (version 3.7.0) and used gaussian_kde of scipy.stats for the density computation 44 .

Analysis 2: interplay of lyrics descriptors, lyrics view count, and release year

In this analysis, we first assess whether lyrics’ view count is related to the underlying musical genre and to which extent such a connection might vary over time. Subsequently, we evaluate the evolution of pop music lyrics over time within each musical genre. We assume that lyric’s view count varies amongst musical genres, and these variations can be related to changes in the lyrics over time. Thus, to further deepen our understanding of the relationship between lyrics’ view count and genre, as well as whether the release date has a role in this relationship, we start by performing a multinomial logistic regression analysis considering genre as the dependent variable and the interaction between popularity and release year as predictors, where the number of views of the lyrics of a song is used to capture lyrics popularity. Subsequently, since the lyrics from different musical genres might develop differently over time, to investigate the relationship between release date and lyrics descriptors, a different linear model (considering release year as a dependent variable) is fitted for each genre individually. To find the model that best fits the data for each genre, we apply the backward stepwise method as appropriate in our exploratory study. From the stepwise methods, we consider backward elimination over forward selection to minimize the risk of excluding predictors involved in suppressor effects 45 .

To carry out a fair comparison, before starting the analyses, the collected dataset is randomly downsampled to guarantee a balanced distribution of songs across musical genres and years. To enable this, due to the highly skewed distribution of data over time, only the last three decades (1990–2020) could be considered for this analysis. The means and standard deviations of both the whole and the downsampled datasets are mostly comparable across the musical genres. There is, however, a larger difference between the standard deviations for pop and country. Unstandardized means and standard deviations for the whole dataset vs. the downsampled for both the lyrics views and the play count are shown in Table  2 .

A total of 2400 items, i. e., songs, are considered for each musical genre. Due to the high diversity across the measurement unit of the predictors, i. e., popularity scores and lyrics descriptors, these are z-score normalized and multicollinear outliers are identified by computing Mahalanobis distance 46 and subsequently removed. Highly correlated descriptors are also discarded until all of them presented a variance inflation factor less than 5. The results from the multinomial logistic regression show that lyrics view count differs across decades for the evaluated genres. Therefore, we investigate the relation between lyrics view count and particular lyrics descriptors by also fitting a multiple linear regression model containing the interaction between the lyrics view count and the other predictors. However, the model with the interaction is not significantly better than the baseline model (for all the musical genres, analysis of variance yields \(p>.01\) ); thus, only the model without interaction is considered in the evaluation of the multiple linear regression results for each genre. The statistical models of Analysis 2 are built on the statistical software R 47 version 4.1.2 (2021-11-01). Multinomial logistic regression is carried out using the mlogit package 48 (version 1.1-1) while the linear models for each genre are fitted with the nlme package 49 (version 3.1-155) and multiple comparisons across genres are performed with the multcomp package 50 (version 1.4-25). The graphic shown in Fig. 3 is generated with the ggplot2 package 51 (version 3.4.3).

Results and discussion

Analysis 1: evolution of lyrics and descriptor importance.

In this analysis, we are particularly interested in the most important and hence, most characteristic features for the task of per-genre release year regression. The top ten descriptors (i.e., the descriptors with the highest regression coefficients) for each of the five genres in our dataset are given in Table 3 . The R \(^2\) values obtained per genre are 0.0830 for pop, 0.0717 for rock, 0.3374 for rap, 0.2600 for R&B, and 0.1267 for country.

We can identify several descriptors that are among the most important for multiple genres. The number of unique rhyme words is among the top ten descriptors across all five genres analyzed. The number of dots and repeated line ratio descriptors are among the top descriptors in pop, rock, rap, and R&B. Four descriptors are featured in the top descriptors of three genres each ( ratio verses to sections , ratio choruses to sections , average token length , number of difficult words (words with three or more syllables)). Interestingly, when considering a higher abstraction level (i.e., descriptor categories such as lexical, emotion, structure, rhyme, readability, or diversity), we observe that lexical descriptors emerge as the predominant category across all five genres. Furthermore, at least one rhyme descriptor is also among the top descriptors for each genre. Four out of the five genres also feature at least one structural descriptor, while R&B does not. While for pop, the top-10 descriptors contain lexical, structural, and rhyme descriptors, rock additionally features a readability descriptor. For rap, country, and R&B, five categories of descriptors are within the top 10. Interestingly, descriptors measuring the lexical diversity of lyrics are among the top descriptors for rap ( Summer’s S that essentially captures the ratio of token types and token count; and Measure of Textual Lexical Diversity MTLD that captures the average length of sequential token strings that fulfill a type-token-ratio threshold), country ( compression ratio , i.e., ratio of the size of zlib compressed lyrics compared to the original, uncompressed lyrics; and Summer’s S ), and R&B ( Summer’s S ). Emotion descriptors only occur among the most important descriptors for country ( positive emotion ) and R&B ( positive emotions and anger ). Readability descriptors are among the top descriptors for rock, rap, and notably, the second most important descriptor for R&B (number of difficult words ).

Evolution over time for the descriptors repeated line ratio and ratio chorus to sections for each genre. The linear regression lines (in red) show the evolution of descriptor values over time for each descriptor and genre (Huber’s M robust regression models are trained individually for each descriptor and genre combination). Blue colors denote the density of data points in a given region. R \(^2\) and p-values are provided in the yellow boxes.

Figure 2 shows the distribution of descriptor values for repeated line ratio and ratio of choruses to sections over time, separately for each of the five genres. Each genre is analyzed separately, with a robust regression model trained for each descriptor-genre combination; the resulting regression lines are depicted in red. The repeated line ratio increases over time for all five genres, indicating that lyrics are becoming more repetitive. This further substantiates previous findings that lyrics are increasingly becoming simpler 11 and that more repetitive music is perceived as more fluent and may drive market success 52 . The strongest such increase can be observed for rap (slope \(m = 0.002516\) ), whereas the weakest increase is displayed by country ( \(m = 0.000640\) ). The ratio of chorus to sections descriptor behaves similarly across different genres. The values for this descriptor have increased for all five genres. This implies that the structure of lyrics is shifting towards containing more choruses than in the past, in turn contributing to higher repetitiveness of lyrics. We see the strongest growth in the values of this descriptor for rap ( \(m = 0.008703\) ) and the weakest growth for R&B ( \(m = 0.000325\) ). The fact that the compression ratio descriptor (not shown in the figure) also shows an increase in all genres except R&B further substantiates the trend toward more repetitive lyrics. Another observation is that the lyrics seem to become more personal overall. The pronoun frequency is increasing for all genres except one ( country with \(m = -0.000145\) ). The strongest increase can be observed for rap ( \(m = 0.000926\) ), followed by pop ( \(m = 0.000831\) ), while rock ( \(m = 0.000372\) ) and R&B ( \(m = 0.000369\) ) show a moderate increase. Furthermore, our analysis shows that lyrics have become angrier across all genres, with rap showing the most profound increase in anger ( \(m = 0.015996\) ). Similarly, the amount of negative emotions conveyed also increases across all genres. Again rap shows the highest increase ( \(m = 0.021701\) ), followed by R&B ( \(m = 0.018663\) ), while country shows the lowest increase ( \(m = 0.000606\) ). At the same time, we witness a decrease in positive emotions for pop ( \(m = -0.020041\) ), rock ( \(m = -0.012124\) ), country ( \(m = -0.021662\) ), and R&B ( \(m = -0.048552\) ), while rap shows a moderate increase ( \(m = 0.000129\) ).

Analysis 2: interplay of lyrics descriptors, view counts, and release year

The second set of analyses first aims at investigating the interplay between lyrics descriptors, release year, and listening as well as lyrics view count. The employed multinomial logistic regression fits significantly better the data than the baseline model, i. e., a null model without predictors, indicating an increase in the explained variability (likelihood ratio chi-square of 314.56 with a \(p<.0001\) and McFadden pseudo R \(^2\) of 0.01).

To assess the effect of the predictors, the genre class rap (i. e., the one with the highest average lyrics view count), is considered as the reference class of the dependent variable. Our results show that the probability of a song being from country or rock instead of rap, according to its lyrics view count , varies across decades. As lyrics view count increases, the effect of the year slightly augments (in 1.07 odds) the probability of a song being from country instead of from rap: \(\beta (SE)=0.07(0.02)\) , \(z=3.29\) , \(p=.0009\) . Differently, as lyrics view count increases, the effect of a raising year decreases (in 0.94 odds) the probability of a song being from rock instead of from rap: \(\beta (SE)=-0.05(0.01)\) , \(z=-5.89\) , \(p<.0001\) . In other words, the lyrics of older rock songs are generally more popular than new ones in comparison to rap, and vice versa for country. This is visualized in Fig. 3 , showing the estimated effects of the multinomial logistic regression model. The interaction between lyrics view count and release year did not show a significant effect for rap with respect to pop and R&B (cf. date * popularity for pop and R&B). Differently, for country and rock, the estimated regression coefficients are positive and negative, respectively (cf. date * popularity for country and rock). This shows that compared to rap, lyrics’ popularity increases over time for country, while decreasing for rock. The same analysis is performed considering song listening count instead of lyrics view count, i. e., we perform multinomial logistic regression considering genre as the dependent variable and the interaction between listening count and release date as predictors. This analysis shows that the release date does not affect the relationship between listening count and genre , as no significant effects are shown. While track listening counts do not show any effects, lyrics view counts do indeed show effects; suggesting that for some musical genres, fans’ interest in lyrics goes beyond their listening consumption. In other words, while the play counts for a given genre might not significantly differ, when it comes to the listeners’ interest in lyrics, clear patterns are displayed: rock fans mostly enjoy lyrics from older songs; country fans are more interested in new songs’ lyrics. However, the small determination coefficient of the multinomial logistic regression shows that the explanatory power of the model is limited; thus, documented significant p-values might partially result, due to the huge sample size, from random noise.

Forest plot displaying the estimated multinomial logistic regression coefficients (standardized beta) for the prediction of musical genre. As reference class, rap i. e., the genre with the highest average lyrics view count, is considered.

In Table 4 , the results from the individual multiple linear regression performed for each genre are given. We find that for rap, the most variance of the release year (the dependent variable) can be explained by the predictors. \(32\%\) (i. e., \(R^{2}=0.32\) ) of the variance in the release year for rap can be explained by the descriptors extracted from the lyrics. This is not surprising as rap, characterized by the use of semi-spoken rhymes, is a musical style that has grown in the context of practices marked by high-level linguistic competencies, such as competitive verbal games 53 . Indeed, among the evaluated musical genres, rap is the one in which lyrics play the most prominent role. The second genre for which a higher amount of variance in the release year is explained by the descriptors extracted from the lyrics is R&B ( \(R^{2}=0.20\) ). This might be explained, from a musicological perspective, by taking into account the relationship between R&B and other musical genres. For instance, R&B was simplified concerning the lyrics (besides the music) by eliminating adult-related themes and topics 54 . As such, it was a precursor to the development of rock-and-roll, which explains the higher importance of lyrics in modeling the evolution of R&B with respect to rock. Note that although we utilize R&B as a general musical genre, other terms subsequently introduced relating to R&B, such as soul , are also considered under the umbrella of R&B. This is particularly important as we investigate music released in more recent decades (1990–2020) with respect to the time when the term R&B was originally coined. At the same time, it highlights the importance of historically contextualizing the musical genres assessed in the comparison, since beyond their intrinsic characteristics (e. g., lyrics having a central role in rap), also their heterogeneous nature, in this case, R&B being more heterogeneous than rock e.g., blues and funk being highly repetitive, while soul has undergone substantial changes and is now lyrically in pop song form), might also have an impact in the role played by lyrics. For pop, rock, and country, the amount of variance in release date explained by the predictors is lower than for rap and R&B, with an \(R^{2}\) value of 0.09 for pop and rock, 0.11 for country. This indicates that, unlike rap, and to some extent R&B, lyrics might not be a very meaningful indicator of the development of other musical genres.

The results show that lyrics’ view count has a relevant effect in predicting the release years of songs only for R&B and rock music. For R&B, there is a positive relationship between release year and lyrics view count : \(\beta = 0.30\) , \(p=.003\) ; cf. lyrics view count for rap in Table 4 . This indicates that new songs are more popular than old ones in terms of lyrics views. Differently, for rock, as expected from the outcomes obtained in the multinomial logistic regression, a strong negative relationship between i and i is shown: \(\beta = -1.47\) , \(p<.001\) ; cf. lyrics view count for rock in Table 4 . This indicates that old rock songs are more popular than recent ones, which can be interpreted from a sociological perspective. Unlike pop, which can be seen as more “commercial” and “ephemeral”, targeting a young audience and whose value is typically measured by record sales, rock has commonly targeted a middle-class audience more interested in tradition and often (ideologically) defeating commercialism 55 .

Properties of the lyrics related to complexity and readability, i. e., indicators of the repetitiveness and the difficulty associated with the understanding of a written text, respectively, seem to exhibit meaningful changes over time for rap, and to a lesser extent for pop, rock, and R&B. Confirming previous work 11 , the complexity and difficulty of the lyrics seem to decrease with time for some musical genres. Concerning complexity, this is displayed by the positive \(\beta\) for compression ratio (essentially capturing the repeatability of lyrics) shown by both rap and rock (cf. \(\beta = 1.15\) and \(\beta = 0.82\) , respectively, in Table 4 ). This indicates that the lyrics of these two genres become easier to comprehend over time, something that can be interpreted as a sign of increasing repetitiveness and, therefore, simplicity. However, the opposite trend is shown for R&B (cf. \(\beta = -0.73\) , in Table 4 ), which suggests that the simplification over time might depend on the musical genre; indeed, this descriptor is not relevant neither for pop nor for country. The decline in lyrics’ difficulty observed over time for rap is confirmed by the negative \(\beta\) for Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) readability measure (in a sample of 30 sentences, words with three or more syllables are counted and used to compute the final SMOG score). This indicates a detriment in complexity concerning the lyric’s readability (cf. \(\beta = -0.64\) in Table 4 ). This contradicts, to some extent, the increasing use of difficult words , over time, shown for rap ( \(\beta = 0.57\) ), while supporting the increase in complexity shown for R&B ( \(\beta = 2.08\) ); cf. \(\beta\) for difficult words in Table 4 . This contradiction supports, however, the conclusion extracted from the compression ratio , which shows that the lyrics become more repetitive. Thus, it seems that the increase (in absolute terms) of difficult words is only due to repetitions in the lyrics. Differently, when weighting the number of difficult words according to the number of sentences (which is performed when computing SMOG ), the effect is negative, meaning that in proportion to the number of sentences, the complexity of the text actually decreases with time. The increase in readability over time is also confirmed for rock, as shown by the positive slope for Dale-Chall readability score (cf. \(\beta = 1.07\) in Table 4 ; Dale-Chall is computed based on a list of 3000 words that fourth-graders should be familiar with. The number of words contained in the list of easy words is counted and used as input to the score computation.).

As expected, the results also show that lexical descriptors have a more prominent role in rap, i. e., the musical genre for which lyrics are most relevant. Indeed, when calculating the predictors block-wise across feature types, this is the type of feature showing the highest adjusted R \(^{2}\) : for rap (0.22), followed by R&B (0.13). Block-wise adjusted R \(^{2}\) per genre for each feature type are as follows. For rap: Complexity (0.04), Readability (0.06), Lexical (0.22), Structure (0.10), Rhyme (0.13), Emotion (0.02); for pop: Readability (0.004), Lexical (0.06), Structure (0.02), Rhyme (0.01), Emotion (0.01); for rock: Complexity (0.01), Readability (0.01), Lexical (0.04), Structure (0.03), Rhyme (0.01); for R&B: Complexity (0.01), Readability (0.01), Lexical (0.13), Structure (0.02), Rhyme (0.02), Emotion (0.04); for country: Readability (0.014), Lexical (0.09), Structure (0.02), Rhyme (0.02), Emotion (0.01). Repeated line ratio is the only descriptor showing a meaningful impact for all the genres, confirming the results of Analysis 1. The relationship between this descriptor and the release year is positive for all of them (cf. positive \(\beta\) in Table 4 ), which indicates that lyrics become more repetitive over time in all the evaluated genres. This trend is confirmed by the negative relationship between release year and the Maas score, a measure for lexical diversity proposed by Maas 56 (the score models the type-token ratio (i. e., the ratio of the total number of words and the total number of unique terms) on a log scale)., shown for all the genres except country (for which this descriptor is not included in the model as it did not show a significant contribution), which indicates that vocabulary richness decreases with time (cf. negative \(\beta\) for Maas in Table 4 ). As already mentioned, step-wise backward elimination is used to find the best-fitting model for each musical genre. The trend toward simplicity over time can also be observed in the structure, which shows a decrease in the number of sections , most prominently shown for R&B and rock (cf. \(\beta = -0.75\) and \(\beta = -0.70\) , respectively in Table 4 ); as well as a general increment (except for country) in the ratio between verses to chorus and verses to sections (cf. positive \(\beta\) for ratio verses to sections and ratio chorus to sections in Table 4 ). Similarly, the results for rhyme-related descriptors further confirm the tendency towards simpler lyrics over time for all musical genres. This is particularly shown by the increment of the rhyme percent in rap in R&B (cf. \(\beta = 1.34\) and \(\beta = 0.68\) , respectively) and by a detriment in the number of rhyme words (cf. negative \(\beta\) for all the genres), which shows a decline in the rhymes’ variety over time. However, for block-wise predictors, slightly higher adjusted R \(^{2}\) for structure and rhyme are only shown for rap (0.10 and 0.13, respectively), but not for the other musical genres.

Concerning emotion descriptors, the musical genre in which these play the most important role is rap, followed by R&B. For R&B the results show that the content of the lyrics becomes more negative with time, as shown by the increase in concepts related to anger and a detriment in positive emotions (cf. \(\beta = 1.75\) and \(\beta =-0.86\) , respectively, in Table 4 ). Differently, for rap, there is a general increase in the use of emotion-related words with time, both negative and positive (cf. positive \(\beta\) for all the emotion descriptors), which indicates a tendency towards the use of more emotional words. Confirming outcomes from previous work 13 , as shown for R&B, also for pop and country, a tendency toward more negative lyrics is displayed over time; for rock, emotion seems to play a negligible role in the evolution of lyrics. As a final note, we would like to emphasize that since both the overall and block-wise adjusted R \(^{2}\) are very low, these results should be interpreted cautiously, and taken as tendencies rather than strong differences and could partly result from partly non-randomness in subsampling.

Result summary for both studies

Regarding RQ1 (Which trends can we observe when correlating multifaceted lyrics descriptors with temporal aspects in an evolution analysis?), we come to the following conclusion: Despite minor contradictory outcomes concerning complexity and readability for rap and rock in comparison to pop and R&B, the interpretation of the lyric’s lexical component, structure, and rhyme, for all investigated genres, generally shows that lyrics are becoming simpler over time 11 , as shown both analyses. This is shown by a decline in vocabulary richness for some specific genres, i. e., rap and rock, and by a general increase in repetitiveness for all the evaluated musical styles. Besides this, lyrics seem to become more emotional with time for rap, and less positive for R&B, pop, and country. Also, we observe a trend towards angrier lyrics across all genres. Potential reasons for the trend towards simpler lyrics are discussed by Varnum et al. 11 . They speculate that this might also be related to how music is consumed, technological innovation, or the fact that music is mostly listened to in the background. As for RQ2 (Which role does the popularity of songs and lyrics play in this scenario?), we conclude that while song listening counts do not show any effects, lyrics view counts do indeed show effects. This suggests that for rap, rock, and country, lyrics play a more pronounced role than for other genres and that listeners’ interest in lyrics goes beyond musical consumption itself.

Limitations

While our analyses resulted in interesting insights, they have certain limitations, which we would like to discuss in the following. Most of these relate to the various challenges pertaining to data acquisition, and the resulting biases in the data we investigated.

The two main data sources for our investigation are last.fm and Genius. Given the nature and history of these platforms, in particular last.fm, the studied LFM-2b dataset is affected by community bias and popularity bias. As for community bias , while last.fm does not release official statistics of their users, research studies conducted on large amounts of publicly available demographic and listening data have shown that the last.fm’s user base is not representative of the global (or even Western) population of music listeners 28 , 29 . In particular, the last.fm community represents music aficionados who rely on music streaming for everyday music consumption. They are predominantly male and between 20 and 30 years old. The community is also strongly dominated by users from the US, Russia, Germany, and the UK 29 , whose music taste does not generalize to the population at large 57 . The findings of our analyses, in particular Analysis 2, which investigates user-generated music consumption data, are therefore valid only for this particular subset of music listeners. Also directly related to our data sources, and, particularly, the Genius platform is the genre information used in our analyses. Annotators and editors on the Genius platform may assign one of six high-level genres and an arbitrary number of so-called secondary tags (i.e., subgenres) to each song. The alignment of genre and subgenre assignments is quality-checked by the community, no genre hierarchy is used to check the validity of the genre and subgenre assignments, which can introduce malformed genre assignments.

In addition, the last.fm data on listening counts and the Genius data on lyrics view counts are prone to popularity bias . More precisely, these counts for songs released before the emergence of the platforms (2002 and 2009, respectively, for last.fm and Genius) underestimate the true frequencies of listening and lyrics viewing. On the one hand, this is due to the platforms’ demographic structure of users (see above); but also because a majority of vinyl and cassette (and even some CD) releases have never found their way into these digital online platforms. This kind of popularity bias in our investigated data might have significantly influenced the trends identified for the 1970s to 2000s. However, only Analysis 2 might have been affected by this since popularity estimates are not used in Analysis 1. And even for Analysis 2, popularity values are Z-score normalized, which to some extent accounts for this kind of bias. Still, it should also be pointed out that the randomization strategy might have led to a sampling bias in terms of popularity. This might have partly affected the results, eventually introducing a bias for the genres pop and country, which due to the mentioned limitation, should be taken particularly cautiously.

Both limitations, related to demographic bias and popularity bias, could be overcome by resorting to other data sources, notably the often-used Billboard Charts. However, using this data would introduce other distortions, among others, a highly US-centric view of the world, a much more limited sample size, and a lower granularity of the popularity figures (only ranks instead of play counts). In addition, Billboard Charts are only indicative of music consumption, not for lyrics viewing, which we particularly study in this paper.

Another limitation of the work at hand is the restriction to English lyrics . This choice had to be made to ensure a language-coherent sample of songs and, consequently, the comparability of results. While some of the descriptors could have been computed for other languages as well, due to the different characteristics of languages (e.g., different lexical structures), a cross-language comparison of the descriptors would not be meaningful. Also, most of the resources required to compute the readability scores and emotional descriptors are only available for English. Nevertheless, in future work, we could include more languages and conduct analyses on songs within each language class on a limited set of suited descriptors.

Furthermore, we also acknowledge the changing record distribution landscape, a further limitation of this work. These changes are shown, for instance, by the IFPI’s Global Music Report 2023 58 , provides evidence of the decline of physical sales revenue vs. the steady increase in streaming revenue in the last two decades. This not only changed, for instance, the number of songs on an album as this was physically restricted on vinyl or CDs, but also the way songs are sequenced 59 . On streaming platforms, a song is considered consumed if it is played for at least 30 seconds. Hence, artists aim to start their songs with easily identifiable melodies and lyrics.

Regarding the models employed, we note that these models assume that the changes in individual features across the analyzed genres are linear. While the change of some of the descriptors has been shown to be linear (for instance, lyrics simplicity (compressibility) 11 or brightness, happiness, or danceability 23 ), this might not be the case for all of the descriptors we employ in our studies. In fact, for instance, concreteness has been shown to decline until the 1990s and then increase 9 .

Our study examines the evolution of song lyrics over five decades and across five genres. From a dataset of 353,320 songs, we extracted lexical, linguistic, structural, rhyme, emotion, and complexity descriptors and conducted two complementary analyses. In essence, we find that lyrics have become simpler over time regarding multiple aspects of lyrics: vocabulary richness, readability, complexity, and the number of repeated lines. Our results also confirm previous research that found that lyrics have become more negative on the one hand, and more personal on the other. In addition, our experimental outcomes show that listeners’ interest in lyrics varies across musical genres and is related to the songs’ release year. Notably, rock listeners enjoy lyrics from older songs, while country fans prefer lyrics from new songs.

We believe that the role of lyrics has been understudied and that our results can be used to further study and monitor cultural artifacts and shifts in society. For instance, we could combine and compare the studies on the changing sentiment in societies and shifts in the use of emotionally loaded words and the sentiment expressed in the lyrics consumed by the different audiences (age, gender, country/state/region, educational background, economical status, etc.). From a computational perspective, establishing a deeper understanding of lyrics and their evolution can inform further tasks in music information retrieval and recommender systems. For instance, existing user models could be extended to also include the lyric preferences of users, allowing for better capturing of user preferences and intent, and ultimately improving retrieval tasks such as personalized music access and recommender systems.

Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available on Zenodo: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7740045 . The source code utilized for our analyses is available at https://github.com/MaximilianMayerl/CorrelatesOfSongLyrics .

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded in whole, or in part, by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF): 10.55776/P33526 ( https://doi.org/10.55776/P33526 ) and 10.55776/DFH23 ( https://doi.org/10.55776/DFH23 ). For open access purposes, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any author accepted manuscript version arising from this submission.

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These authors contributed equally: Emilia Parada-Cabaleiro and Maximilian Mayerl.

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Multimedia Mining and Search Group, Institute of Computational Perception, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria

Markus Schedl

Department of Music Pedagogy, Nuremberg University of Music, Nuremberg, Germany

Emilia Parada-Cabaleiro

AI Lab, Human-centered AI Group, Linz Institute of Technology, Linz, Austria

Stefan Brandl & Markus Schedl

Department of Computer Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

Maximilian Mayerl & Eva Zangerle

Austrian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Vienna, Austria

Marcin Skowron

Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria

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E.P.-C.: conceptualization, methodology, software, investigation, writing; M.M.: conceptualization, methodology, software, investigation, writing; S.B.: data curation; M.S.: conceptualization, methodology, software, investigation, writing; M.S.: conceptualization, methodology, writing; E.L.: conceptualization, methodology, writing; E.Z.: conceptualization, methodology, software, investigation, writing.

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March 28, 2024

Song Lyrics Really Are Getting Simpler and More Repetitive, Study Finds

An assessment of hundreds of thousands of songs confirms that choruses and hooks have taken over—but simpler isn’t necessarily worse

By Lauren Leffer

Drante/Getty Images

When comparing today’s hit tunes with the top 40 of past decades, strong opinions are never in short supply. Every generation seems to lament its successor’s musical tastes and listening habits. Though science can’t necessarily account for such subjective preferences or generational divides, new research suggests popular music has indeed undergone some measurable and significant shifts over the past 50 years—with popular song lyrics becoming simpler and more repetitive , according to a study published on Thursday in Scientific Reports .

“There’s more rhyming lines and also more chorus,” says the study’s senior author Eva Zangerle , a computer scientist at Austria’s University of Innsbruck, who has developed music recommendation algorithms. “We basically found that lyrics [have gotten] easier to comprehend.” This trend, observed across five of the most popular English-language music genres (pop, rock, rap, R&B and country) since 1970, hints at how shifts in music listening habits, platforms and production may be shaping pop culture.

Zangerle and her co-authors compiled lyrics from 353,320 well-known songs released between 1970 and 2020. They used machine learning to single out these songs’ key linguistic features, such as the ratio of repeated words, the types of emotional cues, a readability score and the richness of vocabulary. Then they developed and trained additional models to sort and analyze those features across years in a representative subset of 12,000 songs.

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The researchers discovered that the ratio of repeated to nonrepeated lines has ticked up across genres over the years, nearly doubling for pop songs and rising even more rapidly for rap music. The ratio of choruses to other song sections rose as well. The study also found that contemporary music lyrics convey more negative emotions and fewer positive ones than in the past and that songs have become more personal, with a higher frequency of pronouns such as “I” and “me”—echoing past research findings about shifts in lyrical content .

“I thought this study was really cool,” says Michael Varnum, a cultural psychologist at Arizona State University, who was not involved in the new research. Varnum has previously studied popular music and detected similar declines in lyrical complexity over time. This new work replicates those findings with a more inclusive sample, he says, by surveying an order of magnitude more songs, comparing across genres and looking beyond the biggest chart-toppers to assess the larger landscape of what people listen to.

Yet even this study’s expansive dataset isn’t completely comprehensive. Its focus on English-language songs—compiled from the online platform Genius—means it is inherently biased toward the Western cultural canon, Zangerle says.

Emotional intention and meaning, too, are hard to parse from lyrics alone, says Robin James , an independent popular music and philosophy scholar. James points out that slang terms such as “slay” might appear angry or violent in an automated assessment but actually convey a positive emotional meaning. Even complexity is challenging to quantify, she adds. Lyrics that seem like simple gibberish at first can actually be clever wordplay, James points out, noting Missy Elliot’s backward lines in the 2002 hit song “Work It.”

And lyrics are just one small part of what makes up a song, says Kaleb Goldschmitt, an ethnomusicologist at Wellesley College and co-editor of the Journal of Popular Music Studies . Even if lyrics are getting simpler, musical factors such as texture and rhythm seem to be getting more complex, Goldschmitt says.

Still, shifts in lyrical structure—particularly a boom in choruses—are apparent enough that music scholars have already been noting the trend for a few years, James says. It isn’t clear why these repeated sections are taking up more time in songs. But based on his past research, Varnum hypothesizes that the sheer amount of new music being produced could partially explain the phenomenon. “When people are faced with lots and lots of choices, they tend to prefer things that are easier to process and more straightforward,” he says.

The way people interact with songs has also shifted, Varnum adds, with more and more listeners tuning in to music while multitasking. “It would make sense that if it’s in the background, you don’t necessarily want things that are going to be challenging or attention-grabbing,” he says.

Today’s prevalence of streaming, Zangerle suggests, may also play a role by changing the ways artists compose for their market. Instead of investing in a whole album based on a single familiar song, listeners can now easily—and freely—preview every song an artist makes. This could ramp up pressure on artists to ensure all their songs are as catchy as possible.

But catchiness isn’t inherently negative, and music fans shouldn’t overthink what they like to hear. “Whether [the trend is] good or bad—that’s something I try to stay out of when thinking about science,” Varnum says.

“Complex music isn’t necessarily better music,” Goldschmitt notes. “If that were the case, we’d all be listening to prog rock.”

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Essay On Popular Music (1018 words)

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Pop music and its place in our life

Millions of people like music and can’t imagine their life without it. Music is not only a combination of pleasant sounds. It is an art which reflects life. Music arouses deep emotions and makes people think. It gives us new energy and optimism, besides music is a wonderful rest, a good way to remove from tiredness and tension. Among all genres of music, pop is one of the most well-known.

Pop music comes from the word “popular.” It is a kind of popular music that people used to hear because all songs become hits. Originally it appears in the 1950s in the United States.

History facts of pop music

In the 1950s, in the era of rock ‘n roll, musicians started to produce two new genres of music – rock and pop. It was the introduction in the pop culture. Mitch Miller, the famous producer of that time, started to mix different genre, sounds. He tried to create music that won’t be defined to one genre. Therefore, he combined blues, folk with rock, etc. Pop music started to popularize between teens. In the 1960s portable radio was created, and it greatly influenced the music development. It became available for teenagers to bring “their music” wherever they wanted to. Great Britain took this chance and brought their groups into America. The period of Beatlemania started. Beatle the mix of rock, pop and ballads quickly spread all over Europe and USA. They took the first places on music charts of that time. Now pop was divided into two sub-types: Bubblegum pop and Baroque pop.

Bubblegum pop was targeted on teenagers and characterized by upbeat sound. Baroque pop – unite pop and rock music into one.

In 1970s country-pop emerged. It used to have its own style and format. But most popular was still pop-rock. Appeared many great artists such as Jackson 5, group Queen, Elton John, etc. The last one became the biggest pop star. He sang almost everything from pop ballads to arena rock songs. This brought him extremely high popularity. Queen, in their turn, moved from hard rock to arena rock and popped. They grabbed the opportunity to spread their music in the period of high popularity of pop.

In the 1980s digital recording developed. This decade created dance-pop and techno. New pop stars emerged such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Whitney Houston. Of course, Michael Jackson and his “Thriller” album blew up all charts and became the best-selling. It was the great “paragraph” in the pop history.

The 1990s was the decade of girlish groups. The Spice Girls, the Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears are the stars of this period.

The evolution of pop goes further. By the 2000s pop genre became the only genre that opens many possibilities for musicians. They could mix different sounds, genres, songs to create their new, unique style. R&B emerged and Rihanna with it, Lady Gaga and her electronic sounds.

Pop is not only “the next music genre.” It is a culture. It is a music trend that was created and improved over the decades. It is a complicated mix of different genres but full of possibilities for musicians. Besides, this is easily remembered the music that for sure brings quick popularity.

Classification of pop music

There is no doubt, that pop music is the most common music in the World nowadays. It can be classified by the country it comes from. Therefore, three essential types of pop music are the following: American, Korean and Chinese.

American pop characterized by easy to understand lyrics, fast and slow rhythms. All songs are close to life because they clarify some simple topics. It is a genre of freedom. In the USA there are a lot of big concerts with massive light effects or simply performances outside, on the streets, in the metro, etc. That’s why this music so close to the people.

Korean is also called K-pop. It is characterized by fast songs, strong beats, easy to understand lyrics. Koreans like fast rhythms so they can dance. Everybody knows Gangnam style. Usually, Korean pop music represents by two or more people, good dancers.

Chinese characterized by slow and gentle rhythms, complicated lyrics which follow some ideas. By the way, rhythm and lyrics are very important in this style. Chinese people prefer meaningful songs with deep analysis. It just clams a person, helps to forget about all problems.

Modern pop music

Nowadays there are a lot of pop music hits and pop stars as well. The examples of best-selling artists are One Direction, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Pharrell Williams, Eminem.

There are many critical comments about modern pop music. Some people think that this genre is over-produced, too simple and repetitive. Many sounds can’t be reproduced by live singing; some music sounds the same to each other. Many boy bands became famous just because of the boys, not their music. Historically, music has been defined as having three main components: Rhythm, melody, and harmony. And for a generation now, the mix between the three has definitely changed, where the melody is reduced, and harmony is so reduced that it’s almost gone. This is an observable trend. There is also a thought that pop music is not created anymore. It is manufactured, based on a known recipe of repetitive beats and a pop star is valued more for their looks than their talent.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that music reflects our moods and emotions. It appeals to our hearts and transforms our feelings. Moreover, listening to music is the perfect way to spend free time and not to feel bored. Music is beauty in sounds; it is our magic source of inspiration. Besides, every country has the possibility to develop their styles in the pop genre. It is a genre that gave complete freedom in rhythms, lyrics, and performance. It means that there is some outline of pop sound but musicians are free to do whatever they want. We can try to expand the musical horizons.

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The Evolution of Popular Music Essay

The economic evolution of consumerism in the late 19 th century and the early 20 th century was marked by the advent of credit and the growing popularity of consumer goods. Many products were put within reach of average Americans, making it possible to purchase automobiles and other previously elite items (Chapman 18). From the technological standpoint, that era in music could be characterized by the domination of new sources of mass media, such as radio, television, and film. The demand for a vast array of entertainment sources grew uncontrollably and contributed to the development of a paradigm where art and business could be combined (Smalley and Reeves 104).

The culture of consumerism in the early 20 th century generated an increased level of power for record labels and new distribution channels. A thorough understanding of cultural transformations in the 1920s United States can be established through the popularity of advertising and the impact of the consumer economy on the audience (Crocker 61). It was evident that both artists and the most prominent record labels tried to utilize consumerism to reach out to different types of listeners.

The music of the United States of America represents a very bright and distinctive layer of world culture. Since America is a country of immigrants, in this amazingly ethnically and racially diverse conglomerate of nations and people, a unique culture of its kind was formed. And each ethnic group brought its own characteristic features to this culture. The contribution of African Americans to the musical culture of the country was especially valuable. Former slaves, and then their descendants, brought to the music of the New World that unique flavor that now distinguishes it from other musical cultures of the peoples of the world. Labor songs, spiritual hymns and chants, blues, and then jazz – these are the true origins of American music, which gave it this specific flavor.

On the other hand, the music of the USA was based on the traditions of European professional music. If the African–American culture gave the music of the New World a rhythmic basis and freedom of expression, then the European one – form, harmony, and thematic development. The path to national identity was not simple and thorny. American composers have been looking for a way to achieve national identity for a long time, but the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, who worked in the USA at the end of the XIX century, was the first to find it. His String Quartet (1892) and symphony “From the New World” (1893), despite their predominantly Czech flavor, “suggested” to young authors which way to go: to look for a national grain in the folklore of the country – Indian, African-American, in the experience of masters of the European school (Malone & Laird, 2018).

Then came the time of jazz, which radically changed the idea of American music, giving it a new, national-specific flavor. The best samples of jazz, based on folk sources, represented the richest material for the creativity of composers. In the 1920s and 1930s, jazz sounded everywhere, but it was represented by different samples – from the original, improvisational in nature, to entertaining, commercial, very far from its folk basis. Original jazz music inspired composers to create new musical works.

Chapman, Jane. “The Argument of the Broken Pane: Suffragette Consumerism and Newspapers.” Redefining Journalism in the Era of the Mass Press, 1880-1920 . Routledge, 2018. 14-27.

Crocker, Robert. Somebody Else’s Problem: Consumerism, Sustainability, and Design . Routledge, 2017.

Malone, Bill C., and Tracey E. Laird. Country Music USA . The University of Texas Press, 2018.

Smalley, Andrea L., and Henry M. Reeves. The Market in Birds: Commercial Hunting, Conservation, and the Origins of Wildlife Consumerism, 1850–1920 . JHU Press, 2022.

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Steve Harley, ‘Make Me Smile’ Singer, Dies at 73

He was the frontman of the rock band Cockney Rebel, which landed several hits on the British charts in the 1970s.

By Orlando Mayorquín

Steve Harley, the 1970s British rock star who topped Britain’s music charts with the single “Make Me Smile,” died on Sunday at his home in Suffolk, England. He was 73.

H is family announced the death on Facebook. No cause was given, but Mr. Harley had announced last month that he would step away from the stage to undergo treatment for cancer and had previously canceled several concerts scheduled for this year.

Mr. Harley was the frontman of the band Cockney Rebel, which he formed in the early 1970s.

His biggest hit was the 1975 single “Make Me Smile,” in which Mr. Harley’s even-keeled vocals and melancholic lyrics cruise over an instrumental backing that bears the optimistic sound distinct to bands of the era. The song hit the top of the British charts in February of that year .

Cockney Rebel’s other British hits included the 1974 single “Judy Teen,” which peaked at No. 5 on the charts that year , and a funky cover of the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” in 1976.

Other songs found success outside Britain.

“Sebastian,” a single featured on the band’s debut album, “The Human Menagerie,” released in 1973, became a No. 1 hit in Belgium and the Netherlands, according to Mr. Harley’s website.

In 1986, Mr. Harley and the singer Sarah Brightman made the first recording of “Phantom of the Opera,” the title song from the musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Steve Harley was born on Feb. 27, 1951, in London and was, according to his online biography, the second of five children. His mother, who was a jazz singer in the 1940s, offered Mr. Harley one of his earliest introductions to music.

“She sang around the house when we were kids,” he said in a 2015 interview for the Tim Quinn YouTube channel, comparing his mother’s voice to that of Anne Shelton, a British vocalist who was popular during World War II.

When he was a child, his mother would sing along to Buddy Holly and other 1950s pop singers who would play on the radio, he said in the interview.

Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.

An illness and surgeries kept Mr. Harley rotating in and out of the hospital as a child. At age 12, while recovering from surgery, he found an affinity for the works of D.H. Lawrence, Ernest Hemingway and other authors and took a liking to Bob Dylan’s music, according to his online biography.

These artists, his website said, “moved a young Mr. Harley to realize that his life would likely be “preoccupied with words and music.”

He indeed became preoccupied with words in the late 1960s and early ’70s as he pursued a career in journalism, working for several daily newspapers in Britain.

Around the same time, his life as a singer was born in London nightclubs, where he would perform free, and where he met his eventual Cockney Rebel bandmates, with whom he struck the band’s first record deal in 1972.

A prolific performer, Mr. Harley continued singing days into his final years. He took the stage as recently as 2023.

An earlier version of this obituary misstated the year Mr. Harley gave an interview for the Tim Quinn YouTube channel. It was 2015 — not 2022, when the interview was posted online.

How we handle corrections

Orlando Mayorquín is a breaking news reporter, based in New York, and a member of the 2023-24 Times Fellowship class , a program for journalists early in their careers. More about Orlando Mayorquín