[vc_section css=”.vc_custom_1498056367140{padding-top: 60px !important;padding-bottom: 60px !important;}”][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1498056377179{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Hit Songs Deconstructed recently released its Q4 2017 Quarterly Trend Report, which details the compositional and industry trends for the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:22px|text_align:left|color:%23333333|line_height:32px” google_fonts=”font_family:Karla%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]In Q4, there were 22 songs in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, three of which reached #1 during the quarter – Rockstar, Perfect and Bodak Yellow.
After surpassing Pop for the first time in Q2 with 40% of the Top 10, Hip Hop/Rap decreased in prominence during the second half of the year, accounting for 32% of songs in Q4. On the other hand, Pop, after dropping to its lowest level of prominence in years with 16% of songs in Q2, rebounded back up to 35% of songs in Q4, and once again surpassed Hip Hop/Rap. However, Hip Hop as an influence remained steady, shaping the sound and vibe of 77% of songs both within and outside of the Hip Hop/Rap primary genre.
While men continued to dominate the Top 10 in Q4 with 41% of all songs featuring exclusively male lead vocals, this was down significantly from 70% in Q3. Male/female duet and group vocals, however, almost tripled in prominence from 13% in Q3 up to 36% in Q4. Minor keys continued to increase in prominence, and the popularity of claps/snaps held steady, being utilized in 82% of the Top 10, including hits such as Thunder, Too Good At Goodbyes and What Lovers Do, to name a few.
Larger songwriting teams were still by far the most prominent, with songs featuring four or more credited writers accounting for 82% of Top 10 Hits in Q4.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1498056382835{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”]