Country music singer Davis wants to combat negativity

Jordan Davis has topped the US Country Airplay chart four times

Country music singer Jordan Davis has said people like him must play their part in helping to combat negativity.

Davis was speaking following the release of his latest song Good News Sold, which is about how we would all feel better if there was less doom and gloom in the media.

The 35-year old told the BBC World Service's The Happy Pod that "it feels like the news is nothing but bad".

He says artists should use their platforms to encourage kindness.

With more than six billion global streams and a Country Music Association Award under his belt, Davis is one of the leading talents in a new wave of American country music.

Good News Sold was co-written by his brother Jacob.

Good News Sold talks about helping strangers and telling stories of hope

"Unfortunately, I think we all live in a world where bad news sells. That one just kind of really sat with me, and it's almost like my wish, my hope, that going forward, we start focusing on the positive and not so much on the bad," he said.

Davis believes music and art are a useful antidote to the media melancholia - and enjoyed the synergy with The Happy Pod, calling it "the perfect fit" in helping alleviate some of the negativity in the news landscape.

It is the latest in a string of positively themed chart-topping songs for the Louisiana-native, including 2021 Country Music Song of the Year, Buy Dirt, which features fellow country singer Luke Bryan.

Feeling down

A study by Reuters Institute found an increasing number of people have stopped following the news because it lowers their mood, with almost 40% of respondents saying they often or sometimes avoid it.

Davis says: "It's not just journalists or news anchors. If you see somebody who needs some help, help them out. I think that's what my favourite thing about the song is, it's not necessarily what you're going to read in a newspaper."

The chorus to his newest release states that if good news sold, "turning the TV on and checking your phone wouldn't ever get old" and encourages people to speak up on generosity they witness.

Davis hopes his fans will feel inspired by his songs to pursue happier news

With more than half a million followers on social media, Davis says artists like him have a role to play.

"That's my chance to kind of highlight some of those things and combat the papers or the news channels that are maybe just trying to get clicks or sell some story."

His song was previewed during the European leg of his tour earlier this year, and Davis says there has been a huge reaction to it.

"I was actually watching my local news here in Nashville the other day and the anchor brought it up - I'm just like, holy smokes, that's crazy!"

While it is fun to write classic hits, he says: "It's more fun to write a song like Good News Sold and see its impact and see it connect. So I'm very grateful for the way people have been grabbing on to this one."

Read more from The Happy Pod:

• Why are whales throwing seaweed on their heads?

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