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.

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.