Switched on Pop’s Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan explain
hosts Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan joineditor-in-chief Nilay Patel to unpack how technology is changing the distribution, production, and sound of popular music.
Here is an excerpt of songwriter Charlie Harding and musicologist Nate Sloan explaining why songs are getting shorter in the streaming era.Nilay Patel: Obviously streaming services are everywhere. Algorithmic playlists are everywhere, the album as we know it is falling apart and the forces of the universe are taking hold. Songs are getting dramatically shorter over time. When you ask, “What did technology do to music?” this is such a concrete thing to point to.
One of the main things that has changed is how people are getting paid, and it’s is affecting how songs are being written. In the past, you used to get paid if you sold an album or a single. In 1995, we had songs that were coming in at four minutes and 30 seconds. Today, songs are down to three minutes and 42 seconds, because of the difference in how artists are getting paid now.
Not only are songs getting shorter, but the way artists are introducing their songs is changing. Gone is the era of long intros that sort of slowly get you into the song.
But Nate’s point is right, you want someone to get all the way through. You don’t want someone skipping your song at all, so there’s kind of like this healthy balance. I don’t think we’re entering into an era of where songs are going to be exactly 35 seconds, because there’re all sorts of forms and conventions to work with. You need to grab someone in and you need to make sure they listen to the entire thing and then get out and into the next song.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Why Star Trek Is Obsessed With The Number 4747 pops up a lot in the Star Trek franchise.
Read more »
Jonathan Frakes Wants to Be the Charlie's Angels of Rikers If a Picard Sequel Happens'Happy wife, happy life' is the mantra of Will Riker and Deanna Troi, and that means less adventuring for now... maybe.
Read more »
Tim Burton's Charlie & The Chocolate Factory: 10 Good Changes To The Original Willy Wonka Movie10 Ways Burton's Willy Wonka improves the original
Read more »
charlie and the chocolate factory (2005)In this movie based on the Roald Dahl novel, Charlie Bucket's life changes forever when he finds a Golden Ticket, allowing him to tour the famous Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory along with four other contest winners.
Read more »
Former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel suffers stroke during medical procedure, facing 'crucial' 24 hoursFormer Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel suffered a stroke on Saturday while undergoing a medical procedure in Florida, the team announced.
Read more »
Former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel suffers stroke during medical procedure, facing 'crucial' 24 hoursFormer Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel suffered a stroke on Saturday while undergoing a medical procedure in Florida, the team announced.
Read more »