Think you know everything there is to know about music? Prepare to be blown away as we take a look at some of the most interesting, unbelievable facts about musicians and the music industry.
1. 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.
2.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. Plus, the box set itself flew off shelves: As of this writing, there are only four remaining on Amazon ($686).
3. 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. These averages were then compared with averages by sex and decade for the general U.S. population. The results? Musicians’ lifespans are 25 years shorter.
4.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. In other words, music provides temporal cues that have the potential to make more efficient use of physical energy.
5. Rod Stewart Hosted the Largest Ever Free Concert;
According to Guinness World Record, Rod Stewart’s 1993 New Year’s Eve concert on Copacabana Beach in Riode Janeiro, Brazil, remains the most-attended free concert that ever took place.
Weird Music History
The British Navy Uses Britney Spears Songs to Scare Off Pirates
According to reports, British naval officers play Britney Spears songs to scare away Somali pirates off of Africa’s eastern coast. Her songs “Oops I Did It Again” and “Baby One More Time” are the songs which are used. The rationale of playing these songs is because, supposedly, Somali pirates have a strong dislike for western culture and music, which make Britney Spears’ songs a perfect fit to make the bandits move on as quickly as possible.
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