Can the Lyrics of a Song Predict Its Commercial Success?

SPOILER ALERT:  Yes.

First, let’s break song topics down by decade:

• 1960s: Nostalgia, Pain, Rebellion
• 1970s: Nostalgia, Rebellion, Jaded
• 1980s: Loss, Aspiration, Confusion
• 1990s: Loss, Inspiration, Escapism
• 2000s: Inspiration, Pain, Desperation

Now take a look at this chart words used in lyrics through the years:

There’s more information coming, too, via a study schedule for publication in June in Journal of Advertising Research.    Further reading is available right now in Pacific Standard magazine.

(Pamela Chelin contributed to this article.)