Sub-Genre Fusion, Hip Hop/Rap & Trap
Back to Top Dance/Electronic, Hip Hop/Rap, Pop, R&B/Soul and Rock. These are the five primary genres that comprise the songs that land within the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 from quarter to quarter. During the second quarter of 2015, 19…
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Soul/Funk Vol. 1: 1968 – 1974
With Retro R&B/Soul and Funk being such a prominent influence in many of todays hits, we've put together a playlist that goes back to where it all began--circa 1968-1974. Interspersed with familiar hits, deep cuts, and killer live performances, this Penn’s Picks Playlist is designed…
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Then & Now
A lot can happen in the course of a year, especially when it comes to hit songwriting. When you compare today’s trends with those of this time last year, some of the most notable shifts include solo male vocals being the most popular, song titles…
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Hit Songs Deconstructed Music Charts – Month In Review: August 2015
Hip Hop/Rap, Trap, and the Two-Word Song Title category all reached their highest level in over a year during the month of August. The once dominant Retro category, however, sunk to a 41 week low. Solo Female Lead Vocals rebounded, and the Synth and Prominent…
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Q2 Hit Songwriting Trend Highlights
During the second quarter of this year, the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 featured a host of important shifts in hit songwriting trends. Songs were shorter, choruses hit earlier, more writers were involved in the crafting process, and solo female vocals plummeted, just to name…
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Shut Up And Dance Deconstructed Highlights
The reason for the Shut Up And Dance's success is simple – it contains all of the characteristics that you would expect to find in a major hit. This article features highlights extracted from our Shut Up And Dance Deconstructed Report, showing a few of…
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Jefferson Airplane Turns 50
Formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1972, Jefferson Airplane was one of the most successful, and arguably the best, of the mid-to-late 1960s San Francisco Psychedelic Rock bands. This Penn’s Picks Playlist spans the group’s entire career, featuring a combination of hits, obscure gems, live…
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Then & Now
A lot can happen in the course of a year, especially when it comes to hit songwriting. What follows is a comparison of the top performing categories within the HSD Music Charts during the third week of August in 2014 and 2015.
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Hit Songs Deconstructed Music Charts – Month In Review: July 2015
Hip Hop/Rap, Short Intros and Early Hitting First Choruses were among July’s big gainers. Love and Relationships were rampant, but there wasn’t a lot of Hooking Up going on. Solo Male Vocals dominated, Solo Female Vocals reentered the top 10 for the first time in…
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