I also wonder about the characteristics of what makes songs popular or "hits" in this modern music environment.

I attribute a lot of it has to do with the arrangements and production aspects of songs. When I think of a song like "Billie Jean"... Was it made a super hit song simply because Michael Jackson recorded and showcased it? Probably so, but that song arrangement has been analyzed in several UTube videos, especially the focus on the bass line arrangement.

When you have skilled musicians, arrangers, producers working on a song, how much does that increase the odds of the song becoming a hit? Let's say 50% better odds. Then add a star performer to sing/play it? I'm thinking that combo would raise the odds to 80%+ of being a major hit.

So of those hundreds of thousands of songs uploaded to the Internet which may never get played or heard by more than a few souls, there may well be hundred of future hits in the making if the right team of arrangers, producers, and performers are given a mission to do so.

I envision some TV program that has such a team of experts taking a random song from the web (or selectively submitted) and given the task of enhancing that song and giving the song some mass market exposure. Would be fun to see if songs can be transformed into hits with the "right" pieces and parts working on it.

Cz...
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