Introducing the Hit Momentum Report: Finding the Real Hits in Streaming Data
Graphs About Songs' new weekly paid newsletter provides analysis and commentary of music streaming data for people who program Pop music
If you read Graphs About Songs as a chart geek or a Pop music buff, it’s a tremendous honor that you spend time with my graphs! If your day job doesn’t involve music programming, this post may bore you. I’m back with something far more interesting for you in two weeks.
For the last many months, I’ve been analyzing how a song’s streaming performance correlates to a song’s likelihood of becoming a hit among radio’s mass audience. I knew there had to be insights somewhere in those streaming counts that could tell us which songs the most people know and love. After all, streaming data shows census level data about which songs people play when they’re in control of their music.
But I’ve long known you can’t just look at the streaming counts. Drake could interpolate “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and it would be #1 on Spotify for one week.
With some help from A.I., I have discovered how we can unlock the full potential of streaming data for finding mass appeal hits.
Making Streaming Data Make Sense
Today, Graphs About Songs launches Hit Momentum ReportSM our paid weekly newsletter with analysis and commentary on publicly published streaming data, specifically designed to help you pick current music.
Check out a FREE sample of the debut report HERE.
At the heart of the report is the proprietary Momentum IndexSM score. The Momentum Index evaluates how a song’s streaming is evolving over time to identify which songs are attracting a mass audience—verses songs that are only big among diehard fans of the artist or genre.
For example, Momentum Index confirms that Chappel Roan has a mass appeal audience and is not merely a niche performer…
… but that Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight”, despite a record-breaking debut, never became a song a lot of people passionately enjoy—not even Swifties:
Who is the Hit Momentum Report designed to help?
It’s specifically designed for radio programmers of contemporary Pop stations—ranging from Mainstream Top 40, Adult Contemporary and Hot AC to Rhythmic CHR stations.
What do you get when you subscribe?
You’ll receive The Hit Momentum Report in your email inbox every Monday around 11:30 Eastern. Your report clearly separates songs by Vintage (Currents, New Songs, and Recurrents), as well as by Momentum (Great, “Mixed”, and “Poor.) and shows how many times people played each song for the week.
The Hit Momentum Report also includes my commentary on selected songs to help guide your decisions.
Your subscription will also give you on-demand access to the user guides and the Hit Momentum Report archives.
Who should NOT subscribe?
Although the report does show high-performing titles regardless of genre, it will NOT be much use to you if you work in Country, Hip Hop/R&B, Alternative, or other genres beyond the Pop spectrum. The report also contains no information about gold titles.
How much is it?
$22 a month (or $240 for a year).
Dang, that’s cheap. But why?
Because it’s analysis and commentary on publicly published behavioral data, you’re not paying for us to find and interview research respondents as you would with traditional music research. Instead, you’re paying us to find each song’s story in that sea of free—but confusing—streaming data, so you can make sound decisions.
Ok, but can I try it first?
Yes. Sign up for a trial and look at the current and past reports. If The Hit Momentum Report isn’t for you, simply cancel within seven days.
You can also take a FREE sneak peak of the debut report without signing up HERE.
So do I have to pay for Graphs About Songs now?
No. Absolutely not! As a free subscriber, you’ll continue to see the music you love reduced to data, generally every other Thursday. If your day job does not involve picking new music, please keep your wallet in your pocket.
Just want to see a sample report without giving me your email?
Got any other articles about streaming data?
Does The #1 Song Even Matter Anymore? explains the difference between Artist Stan and Casual Fan music consumption styles, how streaming data mixes both consumption patterns, and how it’s ruined the Hot 100 chart.
Is Top 40 Radio Out of Touch? compares streaming data to radio airplay—and shows why a direct comparison of what’s toppping streaming charts this week does not correlate to the songs radio stations are playinhg most.
Why it’s so hard to know what’s really a hit today expolres how streaming has fundementally changed how we measure music consumption and the impact that change has had on how long songs remain hits.
Sources for this post:
Spotify Charts (2019-2024 for the USA): https://charts.spotify.com/charts/overview/us
Mediabase - Published Panel - Past 7 Days: http://www.mediabase.com/mmrweb/fmqb/charts.asp?SHOWYEAR=N
Great intel as always Matt! You can count on us to upgrade.