‘Down in the dumps’ music listening soars as the credit crunch bites

by Monument PR Worldwide

New figures from Peter Gabriel’s entertainment recommendation website TheFilter.com show dramatic rise in liking for ‘depressing music.’

Bath, 11th July 2008

New figures from website TheFilter.com indicate the number of people listening to snippets of gloomy music or rating the tracks as positive have soared in the last month. The entertainment recommendation service, led by Rock legend Peter Gabriel, has seen well known ‘downbeat’ bands like The Smiths flying up its popularity charts much faster than happier types of music.

CEO David Maher-Roberts says “We’re seeing more of our users than ever before rating depressing or slightly miserable tracks more highly than happier types of music. It’s logical to assume that this is a reflection of what’s happening in the economy. The good news is that there are a large number of happier, more uplifting tracks out theree than can do wonders for your mood!”

The Ten Most Popular Depressing Songs, as rated by The Filter users in order :

1. Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own 2. The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby 3. The Smiths - Heaven knows I'm miserable now 4. Coldplay - Trouble 5. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work 6. Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb 7. Blur - No Distance Left To Run 8. Radiohead - How to Disappear Completely 9. R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts 10. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

The figures have been gathered by measuring how many of The Filter’s user base positively rate or have previewed recommended audio tracks. The news comes just weeks after the Samaritans issued an appeal for more phone operators because their branches were so busy.