60% of hits mention ‘harmful substances’

ALMOST 60 per cent of hit songs include references to harmful substances – with squeaky-clean Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift among the worst offenders, a study reveals.

Researchers analysed chart hits between 2014 and 2020 to establish how many featured alcohol, drugs or cigarettes in their lyrics or videos.

Canadian rapper Drake had the most videos showing images of smoking, drinking or drugs, with a total of 23, followed by American band Maroon 5, which had ten.

Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and rapper Nicki Minaj tied in third place with seven videos each showing harmful substances.

Lead researcher Stephanie Albert, assistant professor of population health at the New York University School of Medicine, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Celebrities know that younger people look up to and emulate them. We want to see far less of these substances depicted in music lyrics and videos. There are no health benefits for young people who use them, but there are certainly many risks and negative consequences.’

Her study concluded: ‘The depiction of alcohol, cigarettes, hookah (shisha) and marijuana in the lyrics and music videos of popular songs is a public health concern.’

It said featuring drugs, smoking and alcohol in music ‘may serve as a cue to consume those products and signal that smoking is a social norm’.

Drake’s videos showed five harmful substances (alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and shisha), while songs by Swift and Sheeran featured drinking and smoking. Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Calvin Harris, One Direction and Ariana Grande were also named in the study.

Professor Albert said: ‘Celebrities hold a very powerful position in society and have the unique opportunity to impact lives in positive ways by not promoting or glamorising the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.’