Facts About Music That Really Sing
They say music is a universal language. And, you know, they’re probably right. After all, who doesn’t love a great, foot-tapping tune?
Musicians Have Shorter Life Spans Than the General Population
One study, conducted by a University of Sydney professor, titled “Stairway to H*ll: Life and Death in the Pop Music Industry,” examined the deaths of artists which took place between 1950 and June 2014. The study specifically looked at longevity and the proportion of suicides, homicides, and accidental deaths. Longevity was determined by calculating the average age of death for each musician by sex and decade of their death.
In 2016, Mozart Sold More CDs than Beyoncé
In fact, Mozart sold the most CDs in 2016, beating out Adele, Drake, and Beyoncé, even though all of those artists had Grammy-winning hits that year.
So, how’d an 18th-century composer sell more than pop music’s greatest names? Well, in October 2016, the Universal Music Group released a box set commemorating the 225th anniversary of Mozart’s death. Each disc included in the box set counted as one CD sold, and each set contained 200 discs. Throw in the proliferation of streaming—which has significantly dampened CD sales—and voila.
Singing in a Group Boosts Mood
Multiple studies have been conducted that prove singing as a part of a group provides numerous physical and emotional benefits. Researchers have discovered that singing is soothing and does indeed raise one’s spirits and mood. When you sing with others, the body releases feel-good hormones, like oxytocin, and reduces stress-causing ones, like cortisol.
Listening to Music Enhances Physical Performance
Research has consistently shown that the synchronization of music with repetitive exercise provides enhanced physical performance, helping people both work out for longer and train more efficiently. In one study, participants who cycled in time to music found that they required 7 percent less oxygen compared to cycling with background (asynchronous) music.
