How Streaming Destroyed the #1 Hit

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  • Опубліковано 4 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 753

  • @pianist150
    @pianist150 2 місяці тому +660

    Never thought about it but you're right. The number 1 song used to be a cultural moment. Whether I liked the song or not, I couldn't escape it. Now I've seen at least a handful of songs listed at number 1 this year alone that I haven't only never heard of, I've never even heard of the artist. I may not have been a huge Britney Spears fan but back in the day when she had a hit, I was aware of it and I could probably at least hum the chorus

    • @SoulTrybe
      @SoulTrybe 2 місяці тому +19

      EXACTLY!!!

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому +3

      This is your personal bias. You are disconnected

    • @pianist150
      @pianist150 Місяць тому +65

      @@RadicallyOptimistic ​​⁠I wonder what disconnected me from music I don’t actively seek. Ahh damn if there was some kind of 14 minute and 18 second video that did an in depth description of some sort of system that’s designed to keep people in a bubble of their own music tastes. Damn! I guess we’ll never know

    • @aranasdylanjames6351
      @aranasdylanjames6351 Місяць тому

      naaah i kinda get it but i would rather forget a song than hear it over and over and over again then get sick of it and then hate it. its better to be forgotten than hated imo

    • @pianist150
      @pianist150 Місяць тому +5

      @@aranasdylanjames6351 thing is I never heard a lot of it in the first place. Like I hear this Morgan Wallen song is a big deal but to this day I’ve never heard it and I only heard of him like a month ago. He might make solid music but if I didn’t specifically look at the billboard chart out of curiosity I’d never know. I haven’t even gotten the chance to forget him

  • @jameseaton53
    @jameseaton53 2 місяці тому +361

    Streaming definitely ruined rap. So many trash rappers wouldn’t even exist if they actually had to sell records.

    • @berdddsa
      @berdddsa Місяць тому +23

      Yuno miles is a legend wdym?

    • @kieran5476
      @kieran5476 Місяць тому +26

      But then they'd be at the mercy of the music companies so they may have never got the chance to chase their passion. Their music may not be for you but everyone deserves a chance if they truly have a passion for music.

    • @jameseaton53
      @jameseaton53 Місяць тому +23

      @@kieran5476 I hear you but I believe the genre suffers as a result. Not everyone’s chasing a passion they’re just tryna make a quick buck.

    • @kieran5476
      @kieran5476 Місяць тому +10

      @@jameseaton53 you know what i actually agree, some people see the success of other artists and want to have that same level of success, but I feel its only the ones with passion for it that will stick through the hard times of no streams and income, that or the extremely dedicated to making the bag.

    • @jameseaton53
      @jameseaton53 Місяць тому +1

      @@kieran5476 agreed

  • @Antonio_Ortiz
    @Antonio_Ortiz 2 місяці тому +128

    This example isn't perfect, but it hit me the other day: Kanye and Ty had a #1 hit this year with Carnival, and yet when I try to reference this song to anyone who isn't online, they have zero clue what it sounds like or that Kayne was still even a thing.
    A #1 used to mean at least casual people were aware it existed, even by radio or ads or store music, but now a #1 can be a hit purely from an online echo chamber.

    • @winrylust6947
      @winrylust6947 Місяць тому +3

      i agree

    • @Prowamfordihno
      @Prowamfordihno Місяць тому +6

      Yes but it's important to note Kanye is fully independent as an artist since like 2022, streaming services and social media are basically the only places you can listen to Kanye's new music now, he's too controversial to be played on radio or advertised elsewhere

    • @cheezekeyk377
      @cheezekeyk377 Місяць тому +3

      Because radio is no longer pushing everything on our throat. Radio lost its power which is a good thing.

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому

      We’re in the social media era. Don’t try to tell me Carnival is not a real hit. It’s a cultural phenomenon partly due to the Tiktok Rizz party (yes thats a thing) and all the memes. I dont even like Vultures or Kanye but this song was a hit

    • @winrylust6947
      @winrylust6947 Місяць тому +9

      @@RadicallyOptimistic it wasnt

  • @Unknownman099
    @Unknownman099 2 місяці тому +354

    Bro is definitely gonna make it in UA-cam with that quality

    • @HP4Race
      @HP4Race Місяць тому

      Too many shills on the platform, although I do hope his effort earns him a place as would be just.

    • @Unknownman099
      @Unknownman099 Місяць тому +1

      @@HP4Race bro... He's trying hard, wish him luck

    • @HP4Race
      @HP4Race Місяць тому

      @@Unknownman099 Never said he wasn't putting in effort or that he wouldn't deserve it. Just that not enough people would appreciate it.

    • @Unknownman099
      @Unknownman099 Місяць тому +1

      @@HP4Race that's the sad reality

  • @Alan_GA
    @Alan_GA 2 місяці тому +324

    The algorithm led me to this video. You put in good research work for this video. Definitely a like for this video

    • @SpeakEasyCon
      @SpeakEasyCon  2 місяці тому +24

      There's a funny irony here in me criticizing it only for it to work in my favor lmaoo

    • @333xtr
      @333xtr 2 місяці тому +1

      This video

    • @shashwatmishraalumni4918
      @shashwatmishraalumni4918 Місяць тому

      ​​​@@SpeakEasyConu have to factor in the popularity of hip hop outside. Murica in these videos
      Nobody gives a fk abt Kendrick drake outside US.

  • @ericd1798
    @ericd1798 2 місяці тому +92

    If streams mattered, Baby Shark would be in the mix for the Greatest song of all time generation.

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому +5

      You mean youtube plays?

    • @TheSkinnyLegend1997
      @TheSkinnyLegend1997 Місяць тому +5

      I'm glad that we don't live in that reality where UA-cam views still matter for the song to go #1 anymore because man... I hate Baby Shark with a burning passion ngl. 😅

    • @yingkouzen
      @yingkouzen 27 днів тому

      Yeah, I think you make sense 😂

  • @SpeakEasyCon
    @SpeakEasyCon  2 місяці тому +220

    Wow, the reception that this video received is way bigger than anything I could've anticipated. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who liked the video, commented on it, and shared it. For those who subscribed and are joining me on this journey, I want to say that my main motivation for doing content is to open up the floor for my audience to have productive conversations with different perspectives. I already know that I don't know everything about the world, so if there's another angle I might've overlooked or a point you think I could've expounded on, put me on game. I'm all ears! Thank you again, family ❤

    • @SpeakEasyCon
      @SpeakEasyCon  2 місяці тому +8

      Additionally, for any of my fellow creators, if you like my thumbnail art, you can reach out to my go to guy Taylor. His IG is Tay.aziel and his twitter is YAHDZNS. Show him so love please, he's great at what he does.

    • @danka1167
      @danka1167 2 місяці тому +1

      I haven’t finished the video yet, but incase you don’t mention it, it’s so much easier to get a number 1 nowadays compared to 2019 especially. For example, N95 which debuted at number 1 in 2022 would have been around 8th the same time last year, the song at number 1 in 2023 at that time would have been i believe top 7ish (maybe 6th). Every year the number one becomes easier to achieve.

    • @zenfy5814
      @zenfy5814 2 місяці тому

      I subscribed because I've been saying this for YEARS and I loved that you unbiased.

    • @AvaKemnitz
      @AvaKemnitz Місяць тому

      This is a beautifully thought-out and edited video essay that deals with a topic that is interesting to people right now. You deserved this win, man! Keep it up!

  • @princemcneil1
    @princemcneil1 2 місяці тому +896

    Bro I thought by the way the video was edited that you had thousands of subs just to see not even 30 subs? SUBSCRIBED

    • @SarahYusra-s7l
      @SarahYusra-s7l 2 місяці тому +9

      Right

    • @kingpin__
      @kingpin__ 2 місяці тому +15

      If an adult English speaking man still says “goodest” then he absolutely deserves 30 subs
      No mercy
      0:18

    • @speedyalf5900
      @speedyalf5900 2 місяці тому

      Same

    • @cgl_north
      @cgl_north 2 місяці тому +41

      @@kingpin__he says greatest

    • @kingpin__
      @kingpin__ 2 місяці тому

      @@cgl_north you make my leak archive…

  • @Conkuist
    @Conkuist 2 місяці тому +189

    In my opinion there is still music produced today that will be remembered in the future. On example that comes to mind is “The Weeknd - Blinding Lights”.

    • @mauswaffles
      @mauswaffles 2 місяці тому +54

      those are really few and far between i believe, for every “Blinding Lights” and “good 4 u” there are about 5-10 “Toosie Slide”s

    • @Conkuist
      @Conkuist 2 місяці тому +7

      @@mauswaffles is is just me or does "good 4 you" also remind you of "Paramore - Misery Business"

    • @anflock451
      @anflock451 2 місяці тому +14

      Travis scott’s discography especially rodeo will be remembered for ages

    • @viabe9232
      @viabe9232 2 місяці тому +53

      @@anflock451 I don't remember this shit today, not even mentioning tomorrow

    • @anflock451
      @anflock451 2 місяці тому

      @@viabe9232 that’s just you man

  • @ItWasntAPhase
    @ItWasntAPhase 2 місяці тому +35

    This video was pure truth. Same discussion could be had for UA-camrs and I mean beyond Mr Beast. Some people can think they are famous and have an audience of millions, but that doesn’t mean everyone knows who they are

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      the youtube crowd doesn’t have a life outside of UA-cam 😂😂😂 they believe whatever popping on UA-cam because they don’t have a social life I’m deadass serious

  • @akeme25
    @akeme25 2 місяці тому +45

    I remember going to the Billboard website every week to see if a favorite song of mine went number 1. It really used to be a big deal.

  • @hargunnsingh7908
    @hargunnsingh7908 2 місяці тому +151

    this is gonna blow up

  • @orestormenaj
    @orestormenaj 2 місяці тому +24

    fragmentation in popular media is a very persistent topic nowadays. you made this to be a very enjoyable and digestible concept. great video!

  • @mattbrannock127
    @mattbrannock127 2 місяці тому +107

    So last year a song called Last Night was the number one song for 16 weeks straight, yet I have never once gone out of my way to listen to it or have heard it in the wild. Imagine explaining that concept to someone in 1983

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому +24

      That’s because in 1983, people consumed music by buying it or by being forced to listen to it on the radio. If you don’t ever turn on the radio, you can avoid literally every hit song. Also Last Night was the rare hit that was virtually nonexistent outside the US. Most consider Flowers to be the hit of 2023

    • @philliporsit
      @philliporsit Місяць тому +1

      ​@@RadicallyOptimistic Maybe in your life but it's not great

    • @boxthebox8659
      @boxthebox8659 Місяць тому +5

      Yeah I think a song like last night is a bit different because it was everywhere on the radios and spent a whole 16 weeks at number one even when other popular musicians were releasing new stuff at the same time. Morgan wallen was not that big of an artist compared to a lot of others that were releasing music at the same time while last night was taking over the charts.

    • @Plupert
      @Plupert Місяць тому

      @@boxthebox8659last night was always played at the bars in college. I’ve never heard of almost any of the songs that are on the top of the charts after I graduated.

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому +1

      Last Night might be my 12th favorite song on One Thing At A Time. It and the album are legitimately huge here. Country culture dominates the States. Morgan, Zach, Luke, Lainey, etc

  • @brookiedoe
    @brookiedoe Місяць тому +13

    personally i got sick of spotify cause why tf am i paying 11.99 just for them to not pay their artists so ive been ripping cds from the library onto an ipod n im LIVING for it

  • @hd.6171
    @hd.6171 2 місяці тому +310

    0:17 "goodest hiphop artist of all time"

    • @RWZRD
      @RWZRD 2 місяці тому +51

      I think he might've said greatest but it sure sounded like goodest

    • @Anarqism
      @Anarqism 2 місяці тому +6

      most best

    • @fowlconhorus
      @fowlconhorus 2 місяці тому +25

      He said greatest

    • @Jorda5s
      @Jorda5s 2 місяці тому +5

      Betterest?

    • @Acedegenerate07
      @Acedegenerate07 2 місяці тому +1

      He said greatest

  • @M.V.T.H.
    @M.V.T.H. 2 місяці тому +28

    You really presented this information well . I feel that's why we've started calling everyone a plant or a bot streams ,cause you literally won't here a lot of the top 100 songs often

  • @eadred9164
    @eadred9164 Місяць тому +19

    The metallica guy was right about napster. The smartphone destroyed all art.

    • @fortynights1513
      @fortynights1513 Місяць тому +2

      The Smartphone made the internet feel way bigger and more pervasive than before

  • @WhatTheForge
    @WhatTheForge 2 місяці тому +21

    Enjoy popping off, well deserved with the clear effort put into this video!

  • @phillinsogood
    @phillinsogood 2 місяці тому +8

    Great video my guy!! Yes I agree the
    Billboard #1s have gotten so forgettable the past few years. I remember during Covid there were so many songs shuffling every week for the top spot.
    The songs have gotten so unrecognizable since 2017.

  • @UFGHF365
    @UFGHF365 Місяць тому +19

    Music nowadays is a lot more specific community driven. No one listens to radio anymore like that.

    • @elvira8280
      @elvira8280 Місяць тому +3

      There's so much manipulation with streaming, though. I uploaded a few songs to a streaming service a few years back, and I was a real eye opener to how much corruption there is. Just as one example, I was bombarded with spam bots and offers to sell me listens within minutes of uploading one of my songs.

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      Brah people still listening to da radio 😂😂😂 you must don’t have a car😂😂 da only people dat say radio don’t exist are people who don’t have cars 😂😂😂

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      Radio waves go the furthest because people dat don’t stream can hear ur music and majority of da UA-cam crowd is fs broke dusty ain’t go a real life crowd 😂😂😂

  • @manniking233
    @manniking233 2 місяці тому +73

    0:35 NOT TRUE. Jay-Z's first Billboard number one was a feature on Mariah Carey's song, Heartbreaker, in 1999, and he had another number one with Beyoncé, with Crazy In Love, in 2003. That claim should say "number one as lead billing" to be accurate.

    • @kaledogg_68
      @kaledogg_68 Місяць тому +5

      Oksalayo it still took long

    • @SweaterSwagg
      @SweaterSwagg Місяць тому +5

      ☝️🤓

    • @nixiemartian4658
      @nixiemartian4658 Місяць тому +9

      All Jay Zs biggest hits are collabs

    • @billiejoearmstrong3741
      @billiejoearmstrong3741 Місяць тому +1

      Mariah Carey ruined the industry with the collaborations in the same way Cher damage the industry with the AutoTune

    • @TheStoryOfMariah
      @TheStoryOfMariah Місяць тому +8

      @@billiejoearmstrong3741Don’t lie Mariah didn’t ruin anything

  • @radiicola3631
    @radiicola3631 Місяць тому +15

    I just checked the top 100 and I have literally never heard “A bar song” by Shaboozey and this shit is #1. What the hell, yeah I’m with you on this.

    • @martinperalta4189
      @martinperalta4189 Місяць тому +3

      you actually might be disconnected from reality bruh i hear that shit every day and that literally the one song thats been carried by sales and radio all year.

    • @elvira8280
      @elvira8280 Місяць тому +5

      ​@@martinperalta4189 Or just disconnected from social media, which modern pop music is nothing without. Music used to be its own thing, not just social media content.

    • @SFAvgeek
      @SFAvgeek Місяць тому +3

      It’s not even cause of streaming. It’s the shit country genre bias. Random ass sings get no.1 cause their country and everyone loves that so much even tho it’s not deserving.

    • @nah....6151
      @nah....6151 Місяць тому

      depends where you live. I'm in KY and that song crossed over big time, r&b stations, pop stations, country stations all play it.... it got overplayed very fast and is a really cheesy novelty song (it sounded like the record label told the guy to listen to an hour of country radio, and then write a song with all the stereotypes in it), but it's a smash, definitely heard it way more than anything Drake's done the last few years, it crossed multiple genre barriers the way Blinding Lights was in 2020

    • @jweeping
      @jweeping 25 днів тому

      @@elvira8280 Without streaming, A Bar Song would still be number 1, and ironically more dominant. As pointed by @martinperalta4189, the reason why it is number 1 is due to its strong presence on Radio and Sales (number 1 in both). It is currently placed number 8 on streaming.

  • @arxparifu2067
    @arxparifu2067 2 місяці тому +73

    bro I can't believe you only got 50 subs with this kind of good editing

    • @SarahYusra-s7l
      @SarahYusra-s7l 2 місяці тому

      Fr

    • @lordmavbmp
      @lordmavbmp 2 місяці тому +2

      600 now lol

    • @tonedavinci
      @tonedavinci 2 місяці тому +5

      1.2k now

    • @Hello-id8mf
      @Hello-id8mf 2 місяці тому +2

      Bro is growing fast. 👏🏻

    • @raul5081
      @raul5081 2 місяці тому +2

      1700 now. Dude is gonna reach 100k pretty quickly if he keeps having these video ideas that make people want to click.

  • @weskateiguess9454
    @weskateiguess9454 2 місяці тому +5

    easiest subscription of my entire life right here.
    this video speaks a truth that a lot of people aren't ready to hear. I found Casiopea and Masayoshi Takanaka through two youtube essays, and I found Deftones and Fleshwater through word of mouth by my best friend. Just for reference, most of my spotify recommended previously WAS hip-hop and alternative indie.

  • @Matts_Ancient_Coins
    @Matts_Ancient_Coins Місяць тому

    I like how you bring up context & noticing biases! Super important in understanding the whole picture.

  • @aobasuzukaze1032
    @aobasuzukaze1032 Місяць тому +5

    In our circle of people who made their job practically to calculate the charts, it's true that streaming has kinda decimated the perceived value of the chart. But, sales manipulation also played a big role in that especially sales bundles that was successful with BTS.

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому +3

      Great point. It seems like the streaming hits are the ones people care about, but BTS sold 250k copies so who cares about your 60 million streams? Lmao

    • @aobasuzukaze1032
      @aobasuzukaze1032 Місяць тому +3

      @@RadicallyOptimistic don't get me started on Jason Aldean and Rich Men North of Richmond which galvanized the biggest stan group ever... conservatives

    • @shapinaak
      @shapinaak Місяць тому +2

      BTS has never bundled their albums nor song singles. They have high sales, because the fans are willing to spend money on their music. I feel like those numbers should have a bigger value than the millions of streams certain artists get from being at the top of curated playlists, auto-play and ad-streams.

    • @aobasuzukaze1032
      @aobasuzukaze1032 Місяць тому +3

      @@shapinaak dude it was literally on the news at how BTS stans are gaining the system by buying different version of the songs in 2021. The labels made them to release a lot of versions of the songs so that they can stay on top for ten weeks when Good 4 U would've probably got more than just a week.

    • @shapinaak
      @shapinaak Місяць тому +2

      @@aobasuzukaze1032 releasing remixes and versions is not bundling, and still, you can't compare labels releasing these remixes that the FANS WILLINGLY buy, to the tactics of other labels, where the labels are the ones paying for radio, paying to be at the top of curated playlists, paying for auto-play and and paying for ad-streams. I mean that's why Olivia was called an industry plant (same as say Sabrina now), meanwhile the only thing people can complain about BTS is the fact that they have a large fanbase willing to spend money on them.

  • @noahemmanuelkekana2527
    @noahemmanuelkekana2527 2 місяці тому +12

    "Algorithmic Manipulation" 🗣️🔥🔥🔥

  • @fatgumball7599
    @fatgumball7599 2 місяці тому +254

    It's sad cuz Drake use to make some really artistic albums with hunger but now he just changed to someone tryna make a hit song

    • @asavelakuse6865
      @asavelakuse6865 2 місяці тому +4

      Anything and everything to stay ahead you might not like that type of thinking but I can't knock it it's the way things are

    • @dojoflex
      @dojoflex 2 місяці тому +7

      He hired new songwriters and producers that’s why

    • @fatgumball7599
      @fatgumball7599 2 місяці тому +2

      @@dojoflex but 40 is still producing for him

    • @lolno6975
      @lolno6975 2 місяці тому +29

      You just arent listening to Drake then. He really hasnt changed that much. Just a slight dip in quality and a nuclear explosion in size.
      Champagne Poetry, Views, 8 out of 10, Blue green red, Family matters, Diplomatic Immunity, Wick Man, Red Button, Hours in Silence, Fair Trade, 8am in Charlotte, Amen, Do Not Disturb, When to say when, I guess it's f me, 5am in Toronto
      These are all genuinely elite rap songs, not just elite Drake songs, all post 2016 with basically at least 1 from each album. And if i wanted to i could actually take the time and go thru each album and pick at least 5 truly elite songs from each one
      The only difference is size. EVERYONE wants to see the big guy fall. Its nature for us as humans, look at the time when Eminem was on top, he was HATED by an absurd amount of ppl
      And, for the record, i will put 500k on the fact that when Drake retires or 5 years after Drake isnt the biggest rapper itw ppl like u will be saying "oh wow Drake was the goat everyone shouldve given him his respect" when u directly contributed to the hate

    • @fatgumball7599
      @fatgumball7599 2 місяці тому +15

      @@lolno6975 what's the point of sprinkling some good songs in 20+ song full of bland? Why not just make a full album of passionate songs? I really hope his collab album with Party is like I said but I don't have my hopes high

  • @thatdude285
    @thatdude285 Місяць тому +3

    This was very well written. It was done professionally, but with your own personal style and taste. A video essay with a soul. Good video man

  • @nctrnm
    @nctrnm 2 місяці тому +8

    The debate around art and its value is indeed a complex one. Metallica's stance during the Napster controversy highlighted the tension between the desire for accessible art and the rightful compensation for artists. It's a reminder that while art enriches our lives and often feels priceless, the time, effort, and resources that go into creating it have inherent value. This conversation continues to evolve with the digital age, as artists and consumers alike seek a balance between sharing creativity and upholding the economics of the arts industry.

  • @AlligatorArms
    @AlligatorArms Місяць тому +2

    Looks like it’s your breakthrough video…congrats; it’s well done & well deserved!
    I’d recently watched a video that featured all the biggest streaming songs that were released during the 2000’s, and literally half of them were rock songs. I’m a rock/alternative fan and I couldn’t believe it. I know the biggest streaming hits of the 2010’s would feature very few rock songs and probably zero rock songs from 2015-19 & was also stumped over the reason for its sudden drop off. I know it’s not just song quality. But watching this video made me realize that the reason is that all these small sub-genres of rock music that the streaming services, & satellite radio decided to compartmentalize everything into are not big enough by themselves to stack up against the hit-making machines that dominated the decade.
    & yes I definitely miss the days where the charts were a way of quantifying how big a hit a certain song was, rather than just a compilation of the artists with the most followers. It’s a shame how little it means to have a #1/top ten/top 40 hit anymore. Most music listeners have more than likely never heard of any of this stuff. It just feels like it shouldn’t even count.

  • @alexiag.ferrer3692
    @alexiag.ferrer3692 2 місяці тому +13

    I work in the music industry (ex-product manager for atlantic records) and I can tell you have such a deep knowledge of what are you talking about. Great video, keep on, I'm already suscribed

  • @ashtonloll
    @ashtonloll 2 місяці тому +17

    this video is sick this is gonna blow up

  • @gergelyritter4412
    @gergelyritter4412 Місяць тому +4

    I saw someone else say it here. Songs are community driven now. You basucly described this as well. People who listen to rap nowadays will probably not come across a Taylor Swift song for months. And vice versa.
    This basicly means that the #1 hit has basicly lost it's meaning. It's not an overall best song anymore. Technically speaking, this isn't anything necesarily bad. It just means, that the focus has shifted away from an overall most liked song.
    The problem that I see is that people are listening to a small variety of songs. I mean I actively try to listen to as many types of songs I can. From mongol throat singing through Eminem and Jazz to Dwarven metal. Yet I still miss out on a terrible amount of songs, because I am not nearly as efficient in finding songs I like in new genres as Spotify is in finding songs I like from my previously established genres.

  • @sionellmccubbin953
    @sionellmccubbin953 2 місяці тому +5

    The fact that you took it all the way back to Napster!!! Hit the nail on the head! ☝️

  • @Ruinwyn
    @Ruinwyn Місяць тому +4

    When you talk about Billboard, you always need to remember the era and technology.
    Vinyl Era was pretty strong on singles. Full LP was expensive, so there was a big market for singles as well. Cassettes were cheap and portable, but mixtapes made singles still a good deal, as you could add it for longer mix and remove the inconvenience of single.
    Then came the CD. That made vinyl obsolete. CD was cheaper, better sound quality and could fit more songs. Tape survived for portability and ease of copying and making mixtapes. On some genres (pop certainly) singles were big during CD era, but in some genres, singles were cut out for more album sales. So singles and album charts started to diverge. Singles also became worse deal. 1 album cost about 3-4 singles, but albums could hold 12-20 songs. So a true hit album would significantly eat single sales. That's why neither Oops I Did It Again or I Want It That Way went to #1. They were both lead singles to albums that went to #1. There were also ton of radio singles that were big but excluded from the charts due to them not being available for public. So from that era, album chart is generally the more representative.
    Napster didn't actually affect sales as much the generally assumed. The growth stopped, but I think we all know by now that no industry experiences eternal growth. Mp3 format (cracking which made file sharing possible) killed cassettes as more portable format (and way to copy from others) dropping significant amount of sales, but that was a music industry format change. DVD's and DVD based gaming systems can to market around the time of Napster competing for the same entertainment dollars.
    Music sales didn't crash until iTunes when the album was killed. Single sales soared, album sales went away. Every song became a single and you could pick the few songs you liked. The cost between single and album also changed again so that dropping even few songs from album meant it was cheaper to buy it as singles. That's when albums started to become a way to deliver singles. Digital sales still meant that you had to market each single separately, so there were long album cycles where each song from an album was milked dry. Album chart became mostly obsolete or domain of some genres still album driven.
    Streaming changed the limiting factor for your music exploration from money to time. You could afford to listen to every song in the world, but you don't have time. So you limit it, with the help of an algorithm, to the ones that are similar to what you already like. When you paid for each song or album separately, you explored what you had access to. Parents collection, library, friends collection (which might have their parents or siblings songs). You no longer wade into pool of songs, you are thrown to an ocean of them, with only the algorithm as a liferaft. And if you try some music you end up not liking, you are punished by it with algorithm continuing to feed it to you for a while.

  • @yimeni
    @yimeni 2 місяці тому +9

    Yooo the editing is first class! Fire vid🔥🔥

  • @the.afronautz
    @the.afronautz 27 днів тому

    Pretty solid analysis and not too goofy with the gimmicks. Good work

  • @SoulTrybe
    @SoulTrybe 2 місяці тому +1

    FINALLY!!!!! Bro you are saying the exact same thing that I be tryna tell people. It’s all smoke and mirrors. New subscriber 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

  • @Aliqandra
    @Aliqandra 2 місяці тому +11

    Streaming is still better than radio payola, at least people choose to listen to the song

    • @elvira8280
      @elvira8280 Місяць тому +3

      I uploaded a few songs to a streaming service a few years back and was spammed within minutes with offers to sell me plays and likes.
      If you think streaming is an untainted process that has cleaned up the music industry, then you're delusional.

    • @FreeSoul76
      @FreeSoul76 Місяць тому +1

      U have to sell single too 😅

    • @guilhermepradonascimentora1367
      @guilhermepradonascimentora1367 29 днів тому

      With autoplay and playlisting? No ma'am.

    • @Aliqandra
      @Aliqandra 29 днів тому

      @@guilhermepradonascimentora1367 just turn that off, do you use free spotfy?

  • @memories_34
    @memories_34 Місяць тому +2

    My new favourite channel, crazy production

  • @NCLBehind
    @NCLBehind 2 місяці тому +1

    Subbed just cuz the comments are 🔥🔥🔥🔥 and your responses are even more 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • @rixraxpox7
    @rixraxpox7 2 місяці тому +2

    THIS CHANNEL IS UNDERRATED ASF

  • @UnkownChris
    @UnkownChris 2 місяці тому +2

    Amazing video, deserves far more recognition

  • @koppzerrr9235
    @koppzerrr9235 27 днів тому

    A video that was much needed because i been saying the same thing. Also glad you used Toosie Slide as an example because it still baffles me. Drake's first solo #1 was in 2018 nearly 10 years into his career and had bigger songs than Toosie Slide that never went #1, but ever since streaming boom he started having average songs debut at #1 just because the first week stream were high but then would fall off the second week.

  • @calligardd
    @calligardd 2 місяці тому +4

    Definitely hate the inaccuracies of algorithms because then I just end up spending all my time looking but never finding

  • @Jasonmasonsixx
    @Jasonmasonsixx 2 місяці тому +44

    0:12 that roll was mad forced

    • @jvresol
      @jvresol 2 місяці тому

      🤣🤣🤣

    • @ImMimicute
      @ImMimicute Місяць тому +2

      Nah cap, I do that same thing, chill out trying to mine for faults and enjoy yourself big man

    • @attachou
      @attachou Місяць тому

      I'm confused

    • @Jasonmasonsixx
      @Jasonmasonsixx Місяць тому

      @@ImMimicute then you don’t naturally roll your shit lmaooo

    • @ImMimicute
      @ImMimicute Місяць тому

      @@Jasonmasonsixx counter point, and I know this is a tough one to imagine, but maybe I do and you're just wrong 😲
      I don't know who appointed you the rolled tongue sound police but they clearly weren't qualified to do so

  • @OSTChuo
    @OSTChuo 2 місяці тому +4

    Bro lowkey had the Huey P black panthers fit on. Joint look nice

  • @Juicewrldcdqremasters
    @Juicewrldcdqremasters 2 місяці тому +2

    Keep pushing out videos like this the algorithm will pick up your effort and return it back ❤

  • @lebomangena5229
    @lebomangena5229 Місяць тому +2

    Dang, Billy Jean vs. Toosie Slide? That's kind of sacrilegious 😮

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому +1

      He picked one of the least culturally significant number 1s of our time. Billie Jean is comparable to Sunflower, Gods plan, and Sicko Mode based on the full chart runs, not just hitting number 1

  • @salmaghanem1445
    @salmaghanem1445 2 місяці тому

    Love this video! New sub. Your analysis is exactly what I’ve tried to put into words for a very long time. Social media and algorithms are exponentially turning our brains into mush by this optimization. The sequel to what u discussed is TikTok/YT shorts/reels. I’m actually suffering by how dumb I feel from these things.

  • @BG-it7hb
    @BG-it7hb 2 місяці тому +1

    Great video. Well made. You have valid points but in the past the problem was similar, if didn't get radio play you where bound to local fame at best. With no chance to get a #1.

  • @prodrigues_
    @prodrigues_ 2 місяці тому +7

    The algorithm part is basically how i feel about the #1 song, too. It loses its cultural impact for the most part. The #1 song, even in the 2010s felt like the culture coming together enjoying one song. Taio Cruz had the early 2010s in a chokehold and we were almost all enjoying his songs, and it was basically the same with Eminem‘s „Lose Yourself“. As of rn, these moments still exist, I mean look at „Not Like Us“, but they‘re far more rare than what they used to be.
    But I only partially blame the DSPs for this happening, I think Social Media has fucked music up bad as well.

    • @austinwarren2286
      @austinwarren2286 Місяць тому

      I agree with your statement but I gotta say outside of just random lists of songs I would never had heard “Not Like Us” I listen to most genres but I haven’t heard that outside of those random lists

    • @prodrigues_
      @prodrigues_ Місяць тому

      @@austinwarren2286 So have you heard anything but "Not Like Us" or everything except for "Not Like Us"?

    • @Jack-y6n
      @Jack-y6n Місяць тому

      I've never hears Not Like US either. I listened to it on UA-cam once because I saw it at #1 and I like the song, but I've never accidentally heard it anywhere, like in a shop, bar, blasting out of a car, in an advert, etc.

    • @Jack-y6n
      @Jack-y6n Місяць тому

      I think 90% of the music I hear anywhere nowadays is from the 1960's to mid-2010's.

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      ⁠@@Jack-y6nyou must not be American because I hear dat song bumping outta a dude car @ da gas station or clear because I believe da UA-cam crowd doesn’t really have a real life outside of UA-cam and yep ur whyte because we don’t go to bars we have lounges clubs

  • @mynameisjeff9124
    @mynameisjeff9124 Місяць тому +2

    Thank god nr. 1 songs don’t exist anymore. Streaming hasn’t ruined anything. The nr. 1 song was always a stupid pop song. Glad these times are over. True hits will still prevail

  • @riyazuo
    @riyazuo Місяць тому +3

    I thought it's a good thing that what goes number one is more dependent on listeners now instead of what's being pushed on the radio. Unfortunately what happened was streaming services started doing that themselves, but instead of radio airplay, it's algorithm and playlisting.
    Saying this, I'd also like to say that going number one back then isn't better than going number one today. It's just easier for most people to know number 1 hits back then bc ppl don't have on-demand the way we do today. It's easier to ignore hits now bc they can sinply turn it off and switch to a different song, album, or playlist. Most people stick to what is served to them then. But it's all same game, radio execs push certain artists the same way streaming services do.
    Charts are a good indicator of what people are listening and tuning in to, but the music and the art and their impact to the culture have always been independent to commercial numbers. Whether you hear them on the radio or streaming services.

  • @khosta6690
    @khosta6690 Місяць тому +1

    Bro I have said this so many times niggas acting like Drake having same number of number ones as MJ means he is on MJ’s level when only like 3 of those Drake number ones were true number one hits. The rest debuting and dipped
    I hate how streaming ruined this shit because the fact that MJ has so many number ones and they all were actual number one hits is insane.

  • @brianmaz1912
    @brianmaz1912 2 місяці тому +3

    I hear you and I mostly agree, but there are plenty of billboard #1ʼs from before 2000 that have been forgotten or just arenʼt that great looking back now. There are also songs that hit #1 in recent times thatʼll be remembered for decades! The toosie slide and billie jean comparison is crazy 💀 Billie Jean was #1 for 7 WEEKS while Toosie Slide barely held up at #1 for a single week

    • @brianmaz1912
      @brianmaz1912 2 місяці тому

      Not hating tho I enjoyed this video and gave you a sub!

  • @tasenova2717
    @tasenova2717 2 місяці тому +2

    It's pretty crazy I used limewire at the age of 5, not understanding what I had joined in destroying and changing forever.

  • @ccevideo
    @ccevideo Місяць тому

    This video is by far been the best explanation on why algorithms have been the worse thing for social media consumption. Discovery has been nearly impossible because of it and puts the onus on us to find new and interesting music in an overly crowded digital landscape.

  • @toaduschums
    @toaduschums 2 місяці тому +3

    W vid, needs more recognition (i subbed while you were at 43)

  • @viktorspice
    @viktorspice 2 місяці тому +11

    I thought u were some fairly known UA-camr before checking the sub count. The fact u have only 300+ subs makes this video 10x more hot cuz of the effort u put in bro. 🔥🔥

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      Damn does it matter ??? It’s weird when yall bring up subscription number because it sound like yall only follow MF wid large platforms idk but it’s a back handed compliment

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      I never checked subs because I don’t give a fugg like why does it matter ? Yall MF are followers who wanna follow what other people follow

    • @viktorspice
      @viktorspice 12 днів тому +1

      @@purrfitazitgetz3365 I mean it’s not and it don’t matter, the fact someone is putting in time and effort even for a small audience is 10x more respectable cuh it shows they do it cuz they love it kinda thing

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      @@viktorspice ohh I gotcha I just see people saying it and when I see I think people only follow what other people follow or what’s considered “ popping” idk

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      @@viktorspice my bad dawg

  • @Kloiyd
    @Kloiyd 2 місяці тому +2

    4:02 That photo was wild 💀
    In all seriousness though, you have insane quality and I genuinely believe you'll grow a lot.

  • @DRMZ9999
    @DRMZ9999 2 місяці тому +1

    This is a great take. I never thought about how streaming affected the way hit songs rise to the top. Thank you !

  • @L1STERINE
    @L1STERINE Місяць тому +1

    This video was so good. As if you only have 2.5k subs. This was a quality and informative video. Definitely earned a sub chief.

  • @AXEL-jt2cd
    @AXEL-jt2cd 2 місяці тому +3

    The day people started glazing charts & views, was the day that hits were truly done for and now the artists (and record labels) are trying to do anything they can to get that #1. Getting a #1 in the streaming era doesn't matter at all when artists and their fans could do payola to get somehow the whole album songs on the top 10. Back then, you wouldn't have been able to do that, it's been more about let's start a trend to force people to stream this and that instead of blowing up a song based on the actual music quality. Nobody even knows the number ones of today and won't be able to recall them in the future.

  • @trevinodude
    @trevinodude Місяць тому

    An algorithm may have led me to this video, but the facts kept me engaged. As someone who grew up during the age of mp3 players, seeing how streaming platforms changed the whole music game, for better in some ways and for worse in lots of others, has been fascinating and sometimes scary. Streaming, I feel, has done a lot of unintentional damage to the music industry in general and everything becomes more standardized and less artistic and authentic, and the way you illustrate that by explaining why having a number 1 hit isn’t the same accomplishment as before is a perfect example of that. As much as I love the convenience streaming has given us as music lovers, I sometimes have to wonder if the cost was too high after all.

  • @SGBX_real
    @SGBX_real 2 місяці тому +2

    you deserve some recognition for this, insane quality dude

  • @-xnnybimb-9398
    @-xnnybimb-9398 2 місяці тому +4

    Quality is insane bro, you’re def on your way up. Don’t quit so that when you have hundreds of thousands or more I can claim my og card.

  • @ChildishLumbino
    @ChildishLumbino 2 місяці тому +4

    here before 1000 subs, great video btw this topic been on my mind

  • @Datenmeer
    @Datenmeer Місяць тому

    Very good analysis!

  • @derrviel
    @derrviel 28 днів тому

    It’s crazy if you think about how Mariah got 18 number ones excluding her Christmas hit before the streaming era.

  • @edward8597
    @edward8597 2 місяці тому +3

    For most of Billboard's history, the singles charts documented sales of a specific product: the single. An album would usually only have three or four singles, so only three or four of that album's songs could chart. No Doubt's "Don't Speak" was a massive song, but it didn't chart on the Hot 100 because it wasn't released as a single, and you could only get it if you bought the album. The chart domination people like Taylor Swift achieve when their new albums drop is incomparable to feats like the Beatles having the whole top five one week, because today every song on an album is eligible to chart. On the week "Sgt Pepper" dropped, radio played those songs non-stop and everyone was buying them and listening to them constantly. But not one song on "Sgt. Pepper" charted on the Hot 100 because not one song fron that album was released as a single. If Billboard worked then like it did now, that week the top ten would have been full of songs from that album.

  • @sooystcy
    @sooystcy Місяць тому +21

    litearlly omg😭 billie eilish fans claim billies song birds of a feather (idk if thats the name lol) is the biggest hit of 2024 and that it deserved to be #1 on some chart over some other artist but i had never heard that song ever😭😭

    • @lxmonmilkk
      @lxmonmilkk Місяць тому +4

      Girl bffr- that song was HUGE everywhere

    • @sooystcy
      @sooystcy Місяць тому +4

      @@lxmonmilkk ive never heard it lmao and alot of people i know haven't and thats okay lol theres no reason to try and be passive agressive lol

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому +5

      Actually the song has been legitimately huge everywhere. Name a bigger global hit this year. Maybe espresso but thats kinda it. The country songs and Kendrick are only big in the states

    • @sooystcy
      @sooystcy Місяць тому +4

      @@RadicallyOptimistic the way you just named bigged hits than that song and proved my point yall cannot comprehend that a viral tiktok song means its "huge everywhere" when its only in the states while the other songs you stated have actually had global succes outside of the states and either way like i said my first comment was my pov and based off some of others that i know but yall are getting so butt hurt like i shaded billie😭😭😭

    • @martinperalta4189
      @martinperalta4189 Місяць тому +2

      @@sooystcy how is it a viral tiktok song? Never heard it on tiktok but i hear it constantly in real life

  • @mariokarter13
    @mariokarter13 Місяць тому +2

    #1 debuts 1995-2019: 35
    #1 debuts 2020-2024: 45

  • @bangtanssera
    @bangtanssera Місяць тому +3

    As a bts army i have just one message to say - FXXX american music industry. It destroyed any hopes for creativity to rise from the bottom, my fav group BTS was extremely lucky to get popular while rejecting american labels to work with. If you ever wanna dig into the conflict between american industry and bts you will be shocked and many suspicions you probably have will be answered, I swear

    • @martinperalta4189
      @martinperalta4189 Місяць тому

      bts and the korean industry is a buisness, and a cultural export and lacks any creativity so idk why youre saying anything

    • @nicholasKMAmusic
      @nicholasKMAmusic Місяць тому +1

      Why are you talking about creativity as a K Pop fan?

  • @cjcoyle2n
    @cjcoyle2n 2 місяці тому +1

    Dude, this is an insanely good video. I thought you had atleast 100k subs or more, but only 1.5k????? Keep up the good work, you earned my like and subscribe.

  • @mayricx3442
    @mayricx3442 2 місяці тому +1

    What's crazy is the video has an eye-catching thumbnail, great editing and I was like yo only 500 subs???? You going places bro!!

  • @Hbvfdvjd-03
    @Hbvfdvjd-03 2 місяці тому +2

    Great vid I totally feel the Mr beast thing I didn’t know about him for so long and when I did none of his vids showed up

  • @soudehkazem159
    @soudehkazem159 2 місяці тому

    very high quality video for a channel with 1.3k subs. love the content ❤

  • @marksilla8276
    @marksilla8276 Місяць тому

    Decided to click on the video essays filter on my UA-cam homepage for the first time and got delivered this banger, good stuff dude

  • @lordmavbmp
    @lordmavbmp 2 місяці тому +1

    what happened today with your channel is an inspiration fr!!!

  • @arianaminogue2504
    @arianaminogue2504 2 місяці тому +7

    no shade, i don't necessarily disagree with your take but saying a number one single has lost all meaning due to streaming is just a bit... short-sighted in my opinion. i do agree that in the streaming era, there has been an easier way for cult-like fanbases to combine their efforts and get a song to number one. i'm not even a drake fan like that but i did hear that stupid ass toosie slide song due to it's popularity on social media not saying it's good or anything but for every bad number one, there are 4 more good ones. not to mention, radio also still plays a big factor in a song's longevity on the charts. so even when a taylor swift or a drake drop an album and their songs dominate the top ten for a week, things will typically stabilize in a week or two.

    • @RadicallyOptimistic
      @RadicallyOptimistic Місяць тому +1

      I learned to stop putting as much emphasis on the weekly charts due to the impact of stan culture. Year end list is much more accurate. Despite not going #1 weekly, Levitating (the top 2021 hit) is bigger than every Drake and Taylor Swift song. The second biggest song that year, Save Your Tears is bigger than every Taylor song and possibly every Drake song as well

    • @martinperalta4189
      @martinperalta4189 Місяць тому

      @@RadicallyOptimistic completley fax. The number one debuts that were dropped by streaming after one week will appear low on the year end list too, they are acknowledged as a week long phenomenon, but the ultimate year defining songs are still the ones high up on the charts purely based on how long people were listening, e.g. how long they were relevant

  • @dayyvalentine4708
    @dayyvalentine4708 Місяць тому +1

    Just subscribed… you’ll blow up soon, keep going! Great content

  • @isl97
    @isl97 2 місяці тому +3

    Couldn't believe when i saw you only had 33 subs, sometimes youtube recommendations do indeed work and you have gained a new sub and it will be fun to see if you get big..

  • @AJ-1344
    @AJ-1344 Місяць тому

    Level of production is unreal for the number of subscribers

  • @ConarMorgan
    @ConarMorgan 2 місяці тому

    I love your info and content explanation. Cant wait to watch your new videos about any topic that you will think off.

  • @viperh1ve
    @viperh1ve 2 місяці тому +5

    Your underrated asf, I subbed

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      Does it matter 😂 damn just follow da MF shidd you sound like you follow what’s popular

    • @viperh1ve
      @viperh1ve 12 днів тому

      @@purrfitazitgetz3365 I’m just supporting the guy, and that doesn’t mean I just follow what’s popular. You make no sense, I’m just supporting a UA-camr that I like watching

    • @purrfitazitgetz3365
      @purrfitazitgetz3365 12 днів тому

      @@viperh1ve ok my bad homie I hate wen people say “ you have more followers “ or whatever it’s backhanded compliment to me and sound like people follow what’s hot

  • @holdthetruthhostage
    @holdthetruthhostage 2 місяці тому +1

    Well said but you need a part 2 on Bots & how if the algorithm is against you you'll never be heard

  • @KhunShawn
    @KhunShawn 2 місяці тому

    Your assumptions are spot on, amazing video! Subbed earned!

  • @DrainTube
    @DrainTube 2 місяці тому +10

    Amazing video, nice commentary and amazing editing. Underrated af

  • @seanvincent788
    @seanvincent788 2 місяці тому

    Keep going con!! You clearly put a lot of work into this and it is paying off 👏

  • @NickyFV
    @NickyFV 2 місяці тому +1

    Nice vid, editing and so on, you really know your stuff.
    Could be interesting to also research how christian music often times don't get promoted in algoritms and why that is the case.
    I remember Michael Jackson even back then mentioning that he would prefer not to preach Jesus as it would be less apealing to the masses, and he instead chooses just to mention God.

  • @J3dotgg
    @J3dotgg 2 місяці тому +1

    Blessed by the algorithm, and rightfully so. Great piece of work!

  • @mrmoo2197
    @mrmoo2197 Місяць тому

    Nice essay, but I think a rebuttal to your point that you could’ve pointed out about the algorithm and just streaming in general is that you’re more likely to find smaller more obscure artists than you would’ve back then. Especially because with streaming it’s become much easier to start as an independent artist than before and yeah the algorithm might not play very different songs than what you’re listening too but it will recommend different artists from the same genre/sub genre that you’re listening too

  • @loneface
    @loneface 2 місяці тому

    Since instagram likes everyone (including consumer) is a pervert for numbers. Great video mate look forward to more 🙏🏽

  • @LiquoTV
    @LiquoTV Місяць тому

    Great video man you deserve far more than 4k subs 💙

  • @Corvy952
    @Corvy952 2 місяці тому +1

    Yep and it’s been like this since the ride of Spotify. You mentioned it, but yeah tootsie slide is where I noticed, wow, being #1 means absolutely nothing now . If a bland boring artist like drake has the most “hit #1” songs than yeah the standard has lowered immensely

  • @inferneo
    @inferneo 2 місяці тому

    Keep up this quality of production you're gonna get big

  • @kbreezy1581
    @kbreezy1581 2 місяці тому +1

    Algorithmic manipulation makes it so important for us as consumers to actually place the power in our own hands. Make sure you only consume content you ACTUALLY wanted to consume, and wasn't just feed to you because you were doom scrolling on tiktok or youtube, because then the choice is out of your hands. Don't forget, in the streaming era, you too are a commodity that these corporations are making money off of