4 ms·

I have some spreadsheets* that have every charting hit on the billboard charts. I haven't gone through the general charts that much, but I'd say the ones I have

by Exmoor 6y ago

I have some spreadsheets* that have every charting hit on the billboard charts. I haven't gone through the general charts that much, but I'd say the ones I have gone through are really surprising. We tend to think we know what the most popular music from the past is, but if you look at the singles that charted the highest throughout modern history you'll find a lot of forgettable crap. *Technically the data is copyrighted, so sadly I can't share.

progre 6y ago
I didn't think tabulated data was copyrightable
- Polylactic_acid 6y ago
  Facts are not copyrightable, collections of facts are, thats why you cant copy google maps but you can go outside and write down the same data from your own observations. They have to be significant enough to be covered by copyright. A top 40 is maybe copyrighted.
  - thaumasiotes 6y ago
    Collections of facts are also not copyrightable. What's copyrightable is the editorial decision to include or exclude -- or, potentially, arrange -- some facts. This is why phone books weren't copyrightable - there is no creativity involved in choosing what's included ("everything") or the order in which entries appear ("alphabetical"). "Every charting hit" is also a comprehensive list involving no creativity. Order them chronologically and call it a day.
    - richrichardsson 6y ago
      Some phone directories were said to include made up names and numbers that could be used to copyright phone directories. i.e. Company A provides a phone directory with a smattering of nonsense data contained within, Company B copies that wholesale which gives Company A ammunition in a copyright case as they point to the nonsense data and ask Company B to explain why they are included (which they obviously can't without saying, "We copied your directory"). This may just be urban lore.
      - thaumasiotes 6y ago
        It is definitely true as to maps; terrestrial maps include streets that don't actually exist. (Nautical maps don't do this.) I haven't heard of it for phone books, but it could be true.
toomanybeersies 6y ago
Even without a spreadsheet that's obvious if you spend 5 minutes thinking about all the popular songs you know from the past. We only remember the interesting and original songs, we don't remember the bland and forgettable songs from previous years. People compare the songs we remember with the generic chart topper du jour and complain that all music these days is bland and forgettable. People remember Michael Jackson's music not just because it was incredibly popular, but because it was unique. People don't remember that during the same time, songs such as Chuck Berry - My Ding-A-Ling [1] also grabbed the number 1 spot. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEC-lWSlmI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEC-lWSlmI

by Exmoor 6y ago

progre 6y ago

I didn't think tabulated data was copyrightable

Polylactic_acid 6y ago
Facts are not copyrightable, collections of facts are, thats why you cant copy google maps but you can go outside and write down the same data from your own observations. They have to be significant enough to be covered by copyright. A top 40 is maybe copyrighted.
- thaumasiotes 6y ago
  Collections of facts are also not copyrightable. What's copyrightable is the editorial decision to include or exclude -- or, potentially, arrange -- some facts. This is why phone books weren't copyrightable - there is no creativity involved in choosing what's included ("everything") or the order in which entries appear ("alphabetical"). "Every charting hit" is also a comprehensive list involving no creativity. Order them chronologically and call it a day.
  - richrichardsson 6y ago
    Some phone directories were said to include made up names and numbers that could be used to copyright phone directories. i.e. Company A provides a phone directory with a smattering of nonsense data contained within, Company B copies that wholesale which gives Company A ammunition in a copyright case as they point to the nonsense data and ask Company B to explain why they are included (which they obviously can't without saying, "We copied your directory"). This may just be urban lore.
    - thaumasiotes 6y ago
      It is definitely true as to maps; terrestrial maps include streets that don't actually exist. (Nautical maps don't do this.) I haven't heard of it for phone books, but it could be true.

toomanybeersies 6y ago

Even without a spreadsheet that's obvious if you spend 5 minutes thinking about all the popular songs you know from the past. We only remember the interesting and original songs, we don't remember the bland and forgettable songs from previous years. People compare the songs we remember with the generic chart topper du jour and complain that all music these days is bland and forgettable. People remember Michael Jackson's music not just because it was incredibly popular, but because it was unique. People don't remember that during the same time, songs such as Chuck Berry - My Ding-A-Ling [1] also grabbed the number 1 spot. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEC-lWSlmI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaEC-lWSlmI