2017 in Review
Below are highlights from the Hit Songs Deconstructed Trend Report, 2017 in Review. To download the full report, please click here.
2016/2017 Comparison: Top 10
| by the numbers: | 2016 | 2017 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| # of Songs | 57 | 66 | +16% |
| #1 Hits | 11 | 12 | +9% |
| # of Labels | 10 | 14 | +40% |
| # of Credited Songwriters | 189 | 253 | +34% |
| # of Credited Producers | 76 | 92 | +21% |
| # of Performing Artists | 59 | 76 | +29% |
| % of Songs with a Featured Artist | 35% | 42% | +7% |
| % of Songs with Multiple Artists | 42% | 52% | +10% |
| % of Songs with Exclusively Male Vocals | 53% | 58% | +5% |
| % of Songs with 5+ Credited Songwriters | 42% | 56% | +14% |
Notable Players:
Ed Sheeran
Drake
Taylor Swift
Justin Bieber
The Chainsmokers
Mike Will Made It
Quavo
Metro Boomin
Most Popular
Artists:
- Primary Artist/Group with the most Top 10 Hits (excludes featured artists): Ed Sheeran, Drake, Taylor Swift, The Chainsmokers (3 Songs, each)
- Primary Artist/Group with the most weeks in the Top 10 (excludes featured artists): Ed Sheeran (40 Weeks)
- Primary Artist/Group with the most #1 Hits (excludes featured artists): Ed Sheeran (2 Songs)
- Primary Artist/Group with the most weeks at #1 (excludes featured artists): Daddy Yankee, Luis Fonsi (16 Weeks, each)
- Featured Artist with the most Top 10 Hits: Quavo (4 Songs)
- Featured Artist with the most weeks in the Top 10: Justin Bieber (28 Weeks)
- Featured Artist with the most #1 Hits: Justin Bieber (2 Songs)
- Featured Artist with the most weeks at #1: Justin Bieber (17 Weeks)
Songwriters
- Songwriter with the most Top 10 Hits: Quavo (6 Songs)
- Songwriter with the most weeks in the Top 10: Ed Sheeran (41 Weeks, each)
- Songwriters with the most #1 Hits: Ed Sheeran, Jason Boyd, Justin Bieber, Mike Will Made It, Quavo (2 Songs, each)
- Songwriters with the most weeks at #1: Jason Boyd, Justin Bieber (17 Weeks, each)
- Songs with 5+ credited songwriters: 37 Songs (56%)
Producers
- Producer with the most Top 10 Hits: Mike Will Made It (8% of Hits, 5 Songs)
- Producer with the most weeks in the Top 10: Ed Sheeran (40 Weeks)
- Producer with the most #1 Hits: Ed Sheeran, Mike Will Made It (2 Songs, each)
- Producer with the most weeks at #1: Andres Torres, Mauricio Rengifo (16 Weeks, each)
- Producer Team Size: 2 producers: 31 Songs (47%)
Record Labels
- Record Label with the most top 10 Hits: Republic: 16 Songs (24%)
- Record Label with the most weeks in the Top 10: Atlantic (52 Weeks)
- Record Label with the most #1 Hits: Atlantic, Republic (4 Songs, each)
- Record Label with the most weeks at #1: Republic (28 Weeks)
Most Popular Compositional Trends
Genres & Influences:
- Primary Genre – Top 10: Hip Hop/Rap (33% of Songs / 22 Songs)
- Primary Genre – #1 Hits: Hip Hop/Rap (50% of Songs / 6 Songs)
- Influence – Top 10: Hip Hop/Rap (68% of Songs / 45 Songs)
- Influence- #1 Hits: Hip Hop/Rap (83% of Songs / 10 Songs)
Lead Vocals & Lyrical Themes:
- Single Vs. Multiple Lead Vocalists – Top 10: Single Lead Vocalist (53% of Songs / 35 Songs)
- Single Vs. Multiple Lead Vocalists – #1 Hits: Single and Multiple Lead Vocalists (50% of Songs / 6 Songs, each)
- Lead Vocal Gender – Top 10: Exclusively Male (58% of Hits / 38 Hits) | Solo Male (35% of Songs / 23 Songs)
- Lead Vocal Gender – #1 Hits: Exclusively Male (75% of Songs / 9 Songs) | All Male Duet/Group (42% of Songs / 5 Songs)
- Lead Vocal Delivery – Top 10: Sung/Rapped (47% of Songs / 31 Songs)
- Lead Vocal Delivery – #1 Hits: Sung/Rapped (50% of Songs / 6 Songs)
- Lyrical Theme – Top 10: Love/Relationships (50% of Songs / 33 Songs)
- Lyrical Theme – #1 Hits: Boasting and Lifestyle (58% of Songs / 7 Songs, each)
Instruments, Tempo & Key:
- Instruments – Top 10: Top 5 – Drums/Perc (98%), Non-Bass Synth (83%), Claps/Snaps (82%), Synth Bass (80%), Electric Guitar (44%)
- Instruments – #1 Hits: Top 5 – Synth Bass (92%), Drums/Perc (92%), Non-Bass Synth (83%), Claps/Snaps (83%), Electric Guitar & Acoustic Piano (33%, each)
- Tempo – Top 10: 100-109 Range (20% of Songs / 13 Songs)
- Tempo – #1 Hits: 60-69 Range (33% of Songs / 4 Songs)
- Key – Top 10: A minor (14% of Songs / 9 Songs)
- Key – #1 Hits: A minor, E minor, Eb minor (17% of Songs / 2 Songs, each)
- Major Vs. Minor – Top 10: Minor (62% of Songs / 41 Songs)
- Major Vs. Minor – #1 Hits: Minor (83% of Songs / 10 Songs)
2016 – 2017 Comparison: Notable Characteristics on the Rise
| 2016 | 2017 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip Hop/Rap (Primary Genre) | 19% | 33% | +14% |
| Hip Hop/Rap (Influence) | 51% | 68% | +17% |
| Trap (Influence) | 39% | 53% | +14% |
| Country (Primary Genre & Influence) | New Arrival | N/A | |
| Latin (Primary Genre & Influence) | New Arrival | N/A | |
| Boasting (Lyrical Theme) | 19% | 27% | +8% |
| Inspiration/Empowerment (Lyrical Theme) | 16% | 23% | +7% |
| Lifestyle (Lyrical Theme) | 26% | 38% | +12% |
| Songs with Both Sung and Rapped Vocals | 35% | 47% | +12% |
| Songs with Only Rapped Vocals | 4% | 12% | +8% |
| Songs That Utilize Claps/Snaps | 67% | 82% | +15% |
| Songs with Tempo in the 60-69 BPM Range | 11% | 18% | +7% |
| Songs with Tempo in the 70-79 BPM Range | 9% | 14% | +5% |
| Songs in a Minor key | 58% | 62% | +4% |
| Songs over 4:00 in Length | 19% | 27% | +8% |
| Songs under 3:00 in Length | 4% | 9% | +5% |
