US study: Traffic fatalities increase by about 15% on the day a hit album is released

On the day a hit album is released in the United States, the number of traffic fatalities increases significantly compared to the days before and after it. Is this an urban legend or a mysterious phenomenon? According to statistics from a research team at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, as long as a hit album is released, the number of car accidents increases by about 15% on that day. Why is this happening? A study published in the international journal "JAMA Network Open" on August 17, 2026 explains the reason.

Research analysis shows that from 2017 to 2022, the 10 most played albums on streaming platforms in a single day in the United States, including Taylor Swift's "Midnights", Drake's "Certified Lover Boy", and Bad Bunny's "Un Verano Sin Ti". Data on traffic deaths 10 days before and after each album's release date found that an average of 139 people died in traffic accidents on the album release day, and an average of about 121 on surrounding days, a statistical increase of about 15.1%. The research team also emphasized that this does not mean that "listening to new songs" directly caused the car accident. The real cause still needs to be further confirmed.

At the same time, music streaming traffic also increased significantly. The daily streaming traffic on the release day of a popular album increased by about 43% compared with surrounding days. The research team speculated that this may be due to the increase in the use of smartphones and the distraction caused by searching, playing, and switching music in the car, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.

The research team also further pointed out that car accidents are more obvious among younger drivers, driving alone, and in sunny weather. The research team also specifically stated that the data could only confirm the temporal correlation between the "album release date" and the "increase in traffic deaths." It did not determine whether the driver was actually using a mobile phone or operating music at the time of the accident, nor could it be confirmed that listening to new songs directly caused the accident. The reasons behind this may involve factors such as cell phone operation, in-car entertainment systems, volume, or even the driver's reaction to the new music itself.