Guardian reports that Phil Maymin, a New York University professor of finance, has studied Billboard’s Hot 100 lists for decades and found that songs with low beat variance (that is, a steady, regular beat) have an inverse correlation with American stock market volatility.
The study suggests that Beyoncé’s number one hit “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” an example of a low beat variance song, is a harbinger of financial disaster.
Maymin told PRI radio, “If it’s a steady beat, the same beat, no matter if it’s fast or slow, that’s a low beat variance song,” These are the songs that signal market volatility. “[But] if [the song] starts off slow and becomes fast and comes back down, that’s a high beat variance.” And according to Maymin’s correlation, a high beat variance means a reliable market.
Now I know why she’s been wearing that metallic glove! Beyoncé is the Terminator.