The Hit Momentum Report: Finding the Real Hits in Streaming Data
Finally, streaming data designed specifically for hit music radio programmers.
You’ve tried using streaming data. You know it’s where your listeners go when they want to control the music.
And yet…
Simply looking at what’s big on streaming this week isn’t helpful.
I’m Matt Bailey. I spent 15 years leading radio’s #1 callout research provider and helping our clients use data to pick the right new music. I always knew there was a way to analyze streaming data to discover the genuine mass appeal songs.
The problem?
A lot of the biggest songs on streaming aren’t the songs everybody knows and loves. They’re the songs an artist’s biggest fans are binging as soon as they’re released—and most never become mass-appeal hits.
With the help of AI analytics, I have uncovered that formula for finding the real hits.
Making Streaming Data Make Sense
The Hit Momentum ReportSM gives you analysis and commentary on publicly published streaming data, specifically designed to help you pick current music.
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.
Check out a FREE sample of the debut report HERE.
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.
What if I want something for free?
Pick the “free” opion and you’ll reveive Graphs About Songs, my bi-weekly look at the music that moves your soul, reduced to PowerPoint graphs. It’s for anyone who, like me, is a music nerd, a chart geek, or a radio fanatic. 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?
19 Oldies Young People Love examines the Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s, and 80s that are often as popular on Spotify as today’s biggest hits.
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 topping streaming charts this week does not correlate to the songs radio stations are playing most.
Why it’s so hard to know what’s really a hit today explores how streaming has fundamentally changed how we measure music consumption and the impact that change has had on how long songs remain hits.