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This article says that the Top 40 has dropped from 35mm to 30mm plays on a Wednesday. Then it says: "The decline is likely partially the result of an overall d
by toby 6y ago
This article says that the Top 40 has dropped from 35mm to 30mm plays on a Wednesday. Then it says:
"The decline is likely partially the result of an overall decrease in streaming after Covid-19 hit the US, due to the absence of people listening to music on commutes and in stores. But it’s not just that. The biggest hits are declining, while the streaming of smaller hits remains about the same."
Seems like it could be "just that". This analysis is weird without knowing whether overall numbers have dropped and whether retail / gyms / public spaces primarily played Top 40 hits (which I'd guess is likely).
- ponker 6y agoThere’s also a different mix of music by listening scenario. I mostly listen to Top 40 and similar garbage while I’m commuting because I’m not that discerning. But the people who are true music aficionados are probably continuing to listen to their obscure music even when not commuting.
- dehrmann 6y agoNot just scenario, but during crises, people tend to go for the familiar, so older tracks might have done relatively better than before. Spotify users might also be skewing a bit older than they used to as streaming adoption grows, but this is just a guess, and older users tent to use Apple Music.
- RandoHolmes 6y agoAccording to the article, less popular songs are still being streamed about as much as they were before.
- dylan604 6y agoIn other words its formulaic garbage people really don't care about, yet are too occupied to change it. When given the choice, they choose not.
- vladvasiliu 6y agoI think that not all music is the same in that it won't be chosen in every context. Sometimes people just don't want to listen to music, they just want some background "noise" that will cover whatever background noise is present (like during a commute). I guess even the "formulaic garbage" is better than the traffic hum or the random noise on public transit. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. When I drive (which I don't often do at all) I'll listen to whatever's on the radio, usually "zapping" around (like people do on TV) and ending up listening to some random music I would never chose on my own. That's usually whatever's popular at the moment. Do I like that music? Not really. But it sure beats the crap out of the rental car's noise engine.
- rob74 6y agoSpeak for yourself :) I can think of several songs where I would prefer the engine noise...
- oshea64bit 6y agoThat's an interesting take, but I don't think the explanation could be so simple as "just that". It looks like the graph in the article showing the share of streams toward top songs has been trending downward long before COVID.
- mNovak 6y agoYeah I agree. I anticipate some amount of people still discover music on the radio (even pop mega hits you have to hear the first time somewhere), then go seek it out on spotify. I haven't much been in a car, thus haven't heard the radio, in 7 months. I have no idea what's on the top 40 right now.
- tomcam 6y agoWAP.
- menybuvico 6y agoI got curious and listened to it, and after listening to that load of rubbish, I simply don't feel connected with society anymore. Do people actually listen to this and like it, or is it just the perceived shock value that counts?
- geraltofrivia 6y agoWAP specifically feels like an experiment. A female singer's equivalent to the overtly sexual hiphop. In music, and in video. Anecdotal: Friends have acknowledged that they're more disgusted by it than the male singer's counterparts. I admit I am, too. And this is regardless of the particular singer's ability to sing/rap, or the lack thereof.
- Freak_NL 6y agoInteresting. What makes it more disgusting? Artistic merits aside, the (uncensored version of the) song and the music video seem justly regarded as a feminist redressing of the balance (if men can rap explicitly about being horny and wanting sex, so can women).
- geraltofrivia 6y agoI recognise that, and thus acknowledge the importance of WAP, but I guess I'm more conditioned to expect this behaviour from men than from women? And the song makes me realise, and possibly correct for it, down the line.