‘What Do You Mean’ Deconstructed
Justin Bieber teamed up with 'Boyfriend' collaborator, LA-based producer MdL for his Summer 2015 hit 'What Do You Mean.' The song debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a career high for Bieber, and was the 23rd song ever to do so. 'What Do…
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Hit Songs Deconstructed Music Charts – Month In Review: October 2015
Back in August, Pop took the top honors away from Hip Hop/Rap as the most popular Primary Genre within the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. During the month of October, it continued to stand its ground. Dance/Club/Electronic, however, dropped down to nil for the first…
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Cheerleader: Power Of The Remix
In this article, excerpted from our Cheerleader Deconstructed Report, we show how a moderately successful Reggae-influenced Pop song was transformed into a massive international mainstream hit via the power of the remix.
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Penn's Picks: Reggae Vol. 1
Since its inception back in the 1960s, Reggae has gone on to play a major role in popular culture, both in and out of the mainstream. This Penn's Picks playlist features a combination of obscure gems, live performances and hits by Reggae pioneers including Lee…
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Hooks, Clever Elements & Intro Techniques
This article features highlights culled from our recent Top 10 Deconstructed report. In it you'll find characteristics and techniques used by today's hit makers to help put their songs over the top including "under the radar" artist digs,the use of non-typical instrumentation, unique hooks, effective…
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Then & Now
Compared to this time last year, there have been notable trend shifts in the Hot 100 Top 10, including the most prominent sub-genre and primary instrumentation categories. However, certain key categories have remained the same. Find out what they are in our HSD Music Charts…
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Hit Songs Deconstructed Music Charts – Month In Review: September 2015
Pop’s prominence in the Top 10 reached a 27-week high in September, breaking its tie at the top with Hip Hop/Rap, which sunk to a 12-week low. The Primarily Acoustic Instrumentation category returned for the first time in 12 weeks thanks to the arrival of…
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The World of Max Martin
With eight songs in the Top 10 and four #1 singles in 2014, he ruled the radio for months at a time and took home the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award for the fifth year in a row. His 54 Top Ten singles place…
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Can't Feel My Face Deconstructed Highlights
Canadian R&B star The Weeknd hooked up with Swedish producer/songwriter Max Martin and his team of hitmakers to craft this summer’s international smash hit, Can’t Feel My Face. Among the many factors that contributed to the song’s success, it’s the clever manner in which the…
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