The power of music cannot be overstated and its influence on our emotions and perceptions of reality are well researched and documented.
In a recent report by Spotify Technology SA, Gen Z subscribers on the streaming platform have been searching for the saddest music that cab get their hands, or ears, on. The users aged 9 to 24 are part of the so called Generation Z demographic, which about 2.56 billion people world wide.
A post on the Spotify blob stated that;
“Sad” is the most-searched term for Gen Z listeners on Spotify globally, and they’re tuning into our sad playlists—including pop-infused sad hour, R&B-inspired All The Feels, rap-heavy tear drop, sad sierreño, sad girl country, and sad girl starter pack—more than any other age group.
In response to the surge in the search for sad tunes, Spotify said they created a new playlist called “bummer summer” to match the mood of Gen Z:
To match the vibe in the US and Canada, we launched bummer summer, the ultimate lineup of moody jams and soul-filling songs. Complete with tracks from d4vd, Frank Ocean, Phoebe Bridgers, Lana Del Rey, Big Thief, and Billie Eilish, the playlist echoes the honesty and transparency that Gen Zs emulate in their lives and listening—and harnesses the ability of emotive, lyrical music to enhance any mood.
Krista Scozzari, Spotify’s North American Marketing Lead, explained the trend shows “Something really unique about this generation. They embrace their feelings so much. They’re really flipping the stigma of vulnerability. Gen Z has brought a raw, authentic new reality to expressing their emotions, and we’re seeing that in how they listen. We wanted to celebrate this powerful thing they’re doing.”
Although the ‘sour’ mood is shared across generations, one may presume that the rough inflation filled economic climes, war and drug use may be catalysts in this pattern.