Friday, July 31, 2026
Science

From virtue to vice: How the morality of popular music lyrics has changed since the 1960s

Popular music may be reflecting a growing culture of vices, according to new research from the Center for Digital Music at Queen Mary University of London. The analysis of musical evolution found that song lyrics have become increasingly negative over the past six decades, with declining references...

From virtue to vice: How the morality of popular music lyrics has changed since the 1960s
Image: Phys.org
Popular music may be reflecting a growing culture of vices, according to new research from the Center for Digital Music at Queen Mary University of London. The analysis of musical evolution found that song lyrics have become increasingly negative over the past six decades, with declining references to moral virtues. This could provide an important indicator of a cultural shift in society.

Originally published at Phys.org

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