Every quarter Hit songs Deconstructed releases a New Arrivals Report, which provides an analysis of the Hot 100 top 10's newest entries.
Below are seven notable trends extracted from the Hit Songs Deconstructed quarterly New Arrivals Report.
Hip hop/rap, a no-show in Q1 2023, rose to 43% of the top 10 in Q1 2024.
Conversely, country, which represented over one-third of new entries during the same time-period last year, has been on a downward trajectory with only one new song representing the genre in Q1 2024.
In Q1 2023, pop's influence across the top 10 was universal, with every single new arrival featuring a pop influence. However, its impact has been on a steady quarter-over-quarter decline, dropping to 64% by Q1 of 2024.
The theme of love and relationships was featured prominently in 86% of top 10 new entries at the beginning of 2023 but experienced a notable decline, dropping to 43% by the first quarter of 2024. Conversely, the lifestyle theme witnessed a resurgence, rising from 21% in Q1 2023 to 43% in Q1 2024.
The average length of top 10 quarterly new arrivals rose by 22 seconds between Q1 2023 and Q1 2024, landing at 3:35.
The "multipart" intro technique, where elements are strategically added to the mix as the intro progresses to keep the listener engaged and establish key aspects of the song, saw its use increase from just 14% of songs in Q1 2023 to 36% in Q1 2024. Among them are Ariana Grande’s smash, "Yes, And?," where it’s masterfully used to maintain interest in its highly atypical 48-second intro.
The "accompaniment carryover" outro technique, where the accompaniment from the preceding section carries over into the outro to maintain continuity, has been in decline, dropping from 79% of songs in Q1 2023 down to just 21% in Q1 2024.
Hit Songs Deconstructed is the only resource that unites compositional analytics for the Hot 100 top 10 with in-depth analysis of the songwriting and production techniques that went into crafting them.
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- Compositional trends on the rise and in decline.
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"Spot on with the analysis and relevant to any composer, songwriter, or producer in the game now.”
“I've found an invaluable ally in Hit Song Deconstructed. It's more than just a resource; it's a window into the mechanics of what makes a song resonate with audiences today."
"I find the site VERY valuable. I’m a fan."
"Even though I’ve been writing professionally for over ten years, I’ve found several nuggets of gold that have improved my writing already."
"My entire thought process as a producer, an engineer, a musician, and a songwriter are fleshed out in the pages of the HSD reports."
"Hit Songs Deconstructed will equip you with tools that will allow you to make hit songs more consistently."
"ASCAP aims to provide members with a multifaceted toolchest to augment their craft and their careers. Hit Songs Deconstructed is a cutting-edge service that can support our members' creative process with in-depth data and analysis of current songwriting techniques."
"Hit Songs Deconstructed has really pushed my music to a competitive level. The instructors are at the top of their game, detailed, and cover absolutely everything that's happening in current, charting successful music."
"The way songs are broken down is extremely useful in really solidifying your understanding of what's happening in the most popular music, and how you can incorporate it in your own."
"Well done HSD for providing the songwriting community with invaluable information and analysis."
"As a songwriter, an important part of my job is to analyze what works in successful songs. By identifying the tools that were employed in hits, writers can incorporate them into their own songs--using techniques that have proven successful--while putting their own spin and unique creative angle on them. HSD does the research for me."
"I have never seen hit songs broken down in such an accurate and detailed way."
"Whether you want to work with the current trends or against them, HSD is a powerful tool in music production strategy."
"HSD provides a great platform for breaking down various aspects of the creative process in the making of a hit song. Powerful tool for learning hit songwriting, production techniques and trends."
"I can't stress enough how important HSD is to any serious professional hit songwriter."
"You combined elements I've tried to put together through hours of studies, videos, and books into something straightforward and easy to understand."
"Hit Songs Deconstructed is in a class of its own. Shedding in-depth analysis for those ready to consume it. From singer songwriter through production, to industry and market trends. No one does it like HSD."
"If you’re truly serious about being a professional in this business, Hit Songs Deconstructed will put you on that path."
"I want to thank you for Hit Songs Deconstructed. It has really helped with our writing and arranging. The leap we have taken has led our music to be play listed at the Yankees, Islanders and also MSG!"
"Hit Songs Deconstructed is a great go-to if you’re interested in what makes today’s pop songs tick. Founders Dave Penn and Yael Penn, experts in music and marketing, break down today’s most popular songs and musical trends."
"Seriously, I have never seen a site that might be more valuable to me, or the songwriters/musicians on this site. You show the skeleton of a tune, but you also show where the soul of a tune arrives. I have to say I was damned impressed."
“You have given songwriters a great new tool, the beauty of which is that it reflects current trends.”
I highly recommend "Hit Songs Deconstructed". It is an insightful and detailed description of the craft of writing hit music for today's music markets. I read it every month to keep sharp, and ahead of the curve.
"It opened my mind to a more structured approach to the melody writing part of my own songs. The analysis are deep and logical. Everything in this is very helpful."
"Hit Songs Deconstructed is an essential tool needed in the toolbox of any artist or producer."
“For those of you concerned about producing and writing hits songs while staying current, this masterclass is for you. Wonderful insight into what makes these current hit songs appeal so well to the artists audience.”
“Insight like no other into vocal melodic patterns of pop hit songs.”
Used By:
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I find the site VERY valuable. I’m a fan.
Eric Hurt
VP, A&R Publishing / Nashville at EMPIRE
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Spot on with the analysis and relevant to any music theory, composer, songwriter, or producer in the game now.
- Dr. O
Producer, Young M.A., Chris Brown, Lil Wayne
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"Even though I’ve been writing professionally for over ten years, I’ve found several nuggets of gold that have improved my writing already."
Roy Stride
Hit Songwriter, Producer, Artist
One Direction, 5 Seconds of Summer, Scouting for Girls
“
My entire thought process as a producer, an engineer, a musician, and a songwriter are fleshed out in the pages of the HSD reports.
Prince Charles Alexander
Grammy winning, multi-platinum music producer, mixing engineer
and professor at Berklee College of Music
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Some producers have a hit or two by sheer fluke/talent and the subconscious knowledge of a lifetime of growing up with music. However, making hits songs consistently is not just about talent and the occasional fluke. There is a science to the art of making hit music.
Hit Songs Deconstructed will equip you with tools that will allow you to make hit songs more consistently.
Lyburn Geldenhuis
A&R/Producer/Songwriter/Mixing Engineer
“
ASCAP aims to provide members with a multifaceted toolchest to augment their craft and their careers. Hit Songs Deconstructed is a cutting-edge service that can support our members' creative process with in-depth data and analysis of current songwriting techniques.
Nick Lehman
ASCAP Chief Strategy & Digital Officer