Part 4/9:
To address the question of complexity in music, we must first define what we mean by this elusive term. Simply put, complexity can be viewed as the amount of information contained within a piece of music, encompassing attributes such as melody, rhythm, harmony, and structure. Research has shown that, over the last several decades, certain trends have emerged in pop music:
The average loudness of songs has significantly increased.
The diversity of timbre has diminished, leading to a homogenization of sound.
The complexity of pitch has decreased, resulting in simpler chord progressions and melodies.