Pop music fans literally dying to stream hot new albums - in car crashes, that is
The Register
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A new study reveals a surprising link between major music album releases and traffic fatalities in the U.S. Researchers found that when popular albums like Taylor Swift’s or Drake’s drop, leading to a surge in streaming, fatal car crashes also increase. The study, conducted by Harvard Medical School researchers, analyzed data from Spotify charts and the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System over five years (2017-2022). On days when top albums were released, music streams jumped by nearly 40%, while traffic fatalities rose by 15%. This spike aligns with distracted driving caused by smartphone use, particularly through in-vehicle phone-mirroring platforms.
The study highlights how modern smartphones pose new risks to road safety beyond traditional texting and calling. By focusing on album release days as an “exogenous event,” researchers aimed to isolate the impact of distraction from other variables. They controlled for factors like weekends, holidays, and driver demographics, even conducting placebo tests with random dates to ensure their findings weren’t skewed. Despite these controls, the correlation between streaming spikes and traffic fatalities remained significant.
The study’s implications are particularly relevant for tech companies and drivers. While banning handheld phone use hasn’t reduced accidents, innovations like “airplane mode” for cars or better infotainment systems could help minimize distractions. The research underscores how technology, while enhancing our lives, also introduces new risks on the road. Younger drivers and those driving alone were more likely to be affected, with sober drivers seeing a higher fatality rate during album drops.
This study not only sheds light on the dangers of distracted driving but also calls attention to the role tech companies can play in improving road safety. By addressing smartphone distractions through innovative solutions, we could potentially save lives and reduce traffic fatalities linked to music streaming spikes.
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Originally published on The Register on 2/23/2026