The Murky Way Singles are Chosen

sopsych · 11-19-2011, 06:25 PM

Singles can make or break artists can and shape long-term reputations. Yet I don't know much about how singles are chosen, and I bet neither do most people. I heard members of Daughtry discuss a little about it on a countdown show, basically saying they prefer their more adventurous songs be singles, but executives veto that in favor of more typical Daughtry (and hence people like me who only know the band's music by its singles think the songs are too similar and bland).

Record label executives meet and talk about possible singles and? I know sometimes radio station airplay is involved, and maybe powerful artists have some say. Also, I know the release dates and order can be different in foreign markets; I don't know how much of that is strategic, e.g., if it's a hit in the UK, then it will be released in the USA. Having seeing corporate-run online surveys conducted more and more, I believe that fan votes eventually will have a role in which singles are issued. In pop and rock genres, up-tempo first single followed by a ballad within six months seems to be the usual formula over the past 30 years, and obviously instrumentals and very long tracks are unlikely to be promoted. I am of the opinion that the selection process is flawed and that it's not rare for the wrong songs to be released.

sopsych · 11-24-2011, 10:57 AM

I haven't learned much since and am not satisfied.

There's a backstory about "Man Down," the Rihanna single.
How Much Does It Cost To Make A Hit Song? : Planet Money : NPR

Of that, I'm most interested in 1) how the radio stations are evaluating listener feedback and 2) why the heck would someone spend all that money trying to make a hit out of a song about killing a person? Sunk costs? Because talked-about video could equal big hit?

I have a guess that later singles are chosen partly based on chatter on fan sites and sites like Billboard. Critics' reviews of albums, too, perhaps?

sopsych · 11-26-2011, 11:30 AM

[Jason] Derülo explained that he did not believe in the possibility of "It Girl" to be the next single from Future History.[7] However, his peers were saying that it was very distinct from the lead single, "Don't Wanna Go Home" and that response motivated him to pick it as the second single.[7] He believed that showing the difference in the new album was important in picking the single. He did not want to put another dance song so that his fans do not assume that the entire album consisted of uptempo songs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Girl_(song)

Peers, huh? But some critics also rated it well, and according to VH1, Derulo said the fans wanted it as a single. I guess selection depends on how democratic the label is, especially for later singles. For what it's worth, I dislike "It Girl."

11-19-2011, 06:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	The Murky Way Singles are Chosen Singles can make or break artists can and shape long-term reputations. Yet I don't know much about how singles are chosen, and I bet neither do most people. I heard members of Daughtry discuss a little about it on a countdown show, basically saying they prefer their more adventurous songs be singles, but executives veto that in favor of more typical Daughtry (and hence people like me who only know the band's music by its singles think the songs are too similar and bland). Record label executives meet and talk about possible singles and? I know sometimes radio station airplay is involved, and maybe powerful artists have some say. Also, I know the release dates and order can be different in foreign markets; I don't know how much of that is strategic, e.g., if it's a hit in the UK, then it will be released in the USA. Having seeing corporate-run online surveys conducted more and more, I believe that fan votes eventually will have a role in which singles are issued. In pop and rock genres, up-tempo first single followed by a ballad within six months seems to be the usual formula over the past 30 years, and obviously instrumentals and very long tracks are unlikely to be promoted. I am of the opinion that the selection process is flawed and that it's not rare for the wrong songs to be released. Last edited by sopsych; 11-22-2011 at 10:41 AM.

11-24-2011, 10:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	I haven't learned much since and am not satisfied. There's a backstory about "Man Down," the Rihanna single. How Much Does It Cost To Make A Hit Song? : Planet Money : NPR Of that, I'm most interested in 1) how the radio stations are evaluating listener feedback and 2) why the heck would someone spend all that money trying to make a hit out of a song about killing a person? Sunk costs? Because talked-about video could equal big hit? I have a guess that later singles are chosen partly based on chatter on fan sites and sites like Billboard. Critics' reviews of albums, too, perhaps?

11-26-2011, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
sopsych Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: indoors Posts: 722	[Jason] Derülo explained that he did not believe in the possibility of "It Girl" to be the next single from Future History.[7] However, his peers were saying that it was very distinct from the lead single, "Don't Wanna Go Home" and that response motivated him to pick it as the second single.[7] He believed that showing the difference in the new album was important in picking the single. He did not want to put another dance song so that his fans do not assume that the entire album consisted of uptempo songs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Girl_(song) Peers, huh? But some critics also rated it well, and according to VH1, Derulo said the fans wanted it as a single. I guess selection depends on how democratic the label is, especially for later singles. For what it's worth, I dislike "It Girl."