While pop music may have an approachable, up-beat sound, those accessible rhythms dominating the airwaves actually contain just as much violence and misogyny in their lyrics as hip hop and rap music, according to a new study.
Nearly one-third of popular songs have lyrics that degrade or demean women by portraying them as submissive or sexually objectified, according to the study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri.
'One wonders why pop music is not as maligned as hip-hop/rap for its communication of violence,' said the report.
Rapper Ice Cube (left) poses for photos backstage at the Genesis Convention Center in Gary, Indiana in July 1989. Cube's music has often been criticized for its violence, but a new study finds pop music is just as violent in its lyrics as hip hop and rap. Gwen Stefani (right) is shown here in her 2004 video for 'Hollaback Girl,' which is cited in a recent study finding that pop music is just as violent as hip hop and rap. The song is about a physical fight between two girls
Researchers at the University of Missouri started out by analyzing pop lyrics of more than 400 top Billboard songs released between 2006-2016, searching for profanity and references to violence, misogyny and women engaging in degrading sex acts.
They compared their findings to lyrics across all major genres: rap/hip hop, rock, country, heavy metal and R&B. For the purposes of the study hip hop and rap were grouped together as one category.
While rap and hip hop are often criticized for their violent content, researchers discovered that it tied with pop music as the most violent of all genres – the two most popular types of music among teens and young adults.
Researchers also found that country music had the least amount of violent and misogynistic content, according to the study published this week in the journal 'Media Watch.'
When thinking about violence in music, most people may recall Eminem's 2000 hit 'Kim' in which he graphically describes murdering his then-wife, or 'Straight Outta Compton' by Ice Cube, which has the artist threatening to use an AK-47 and likening his crime record to that of Charles Manson.
But researchers cited several problematic examples in pop music, including 'Wake Up Call,' by Maroon 5, which tells the story of a man shooting his girlfriend's lover: 'Came without a warning, so I had to shoot him dead; he won't come around here anymore.'
Another set of problematic lyrics can be found in the song 'Blurred Lines' by Robin Thicke, which alludes to pressuring a woman into sex against her will.
Researchers also referenced 'Hollaback Girl' by Gwen Stefani, which is about a physical fight between two young women on a track: 'So I'm gonna fight, gonna give it my all; gonna make you fall, gonna sock it to ya; that's right, I'm the last one standing, and another one bites the dust.'
Adam Levine (left) of Maroon 5 performs during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. Maroon 5's song 'Wake Up Call,' about a man shooting his girlfriend's lover, is cited in a new study finding pop music is just as violent as hip hop and rap. Rapper Eminem (right) is shown here in an undated photo at a record release party. Eminem's music has long been criticized for its violent nature
The violence, cursing and 'antagonistic' lyrics may be harder for listeners to spot when it comes to
