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The Soundtrack of a Crisis: More Positive Music Preferences During Economic and Social Adversity

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  • Marco Palomeque

    (Universidad de Alcalá)

  • Juan de-Lucio

    (Universidad de Alcalá)

Abstract

This paper studies the positiveness in most consumed songs during a period of sadness, worry and uncertainty: the COVID-19 crisis in comparison with previous years. In order to perform the analysis, we create an original positive music indicator using a dataset of weekly patterns for music consumption in 31 OECD countries over a five year period. Results show that negative shocks from events such as economic business cycles and the COVID-19 pandemic increase the consumption of positive songs, suggesting that society compensates the negative impact on well-being with positive music. We conclude that society adapts sentiment-based music consumption preferences according to the socioeconomic situation.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Palomeque & Juan de-Lucio, 2024. "The Soundtrack of a Crisis: More Positive Music Preferences During Economic and Social Adversity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 1-24, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:25:y:2024:i:5:d:10.1007_s10902-024-00757-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00757-4
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    JEL classification:

    • Z11 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economics of the Arts and Literature
    • E7 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macro-Based Behavioral Economics

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