Is Streaming Changing The Sound of Pop Music?

Mark Hogan a Senior Staff Writer for Pitchfork wrote an article that shed light on how producers and songwriters are beginning to tailor tracks to align with the ever-growing music delivery system called streaming, and in many ways specifically, digital music service provider, Spotify. Hogan points out what most music creatives and industry insiders know--the format of music helps to shape what we hear. The length of a single was first conceived of during the era of 45 RPM 7 inch records. If the song was longer than what a 45 could hold, then....

As the technology advances so must the mind of the creative who uses the technology to publish their art. Streaming music is a technological form that has made competition amongst creatives very intense. With thousands of songs available to listeners it is harder to get your music pushed to the forefront, even with the algorithms and curated content. Some would think, "all I have to do is get my music on a streaming service and I will be a star," when the reality is that the only way for a stream to count towards chart tallies and the payout of royalties, the song has to play for at least 30 seconds. So producers are having to tailor the start of songs to factor in grabbing and keeping the attention of the listener long enough that they continue listening beyond this time frame.

Hogan highlights several songs by well-known producers and performers where you can hear how they mastered this process. He also shares about the reverse-engineering of songs and how creating a track with the first 30 seconds of a well-known sampled song that catches the attention of the listener (because the track is familiar to them), like Katy Perry's single "Swish Swish" featuring Nicki Minaj, that starts with a sample from Fatboy Slim that targets British house music lovers as well as Minaj fans who recall her "Truffle Butter" track.   

Digital marketing firms have stepped up to help managers navigate this unknown sea and the growing reality that creatives now have a farther and more intimate global reach than in the past. Streaming allows consumers of music to gain access to content sooner and easier than ever before, which also removes many of the restrictions of the past that kept great artists from being heard. 

Hogan's article continues as he digs deeper into the world of Spotify and how they are serving as a huge driver for hitmakers. Read Mark Hogan's full article by clicking the link below. 

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