How the nature of chart-topping songs has changed

Chart-topping songs are getting shorter and slower, and key changes and fades have almost disappeared, an analysis of 1404 UK number one songs has revealed.

Music chart analyst and historian James Masterton says streaming technology is behind the brevity of newer number one songs.

“You only actually get paid for somebody listening to it, and your play only counts towards the charts, if people stick around for 30 seconds,” he told Ross and Russel.

“You’ve got to hook people in in that first 30 seconds and they’re not going to be hooked in if you do what you always used to do decades ago and spend a lot of time noodling around and developing the medley and having a slow-building intro.”

“When you do that you change the whole way pop music is structured.”

Press PLAY below to hear how music has changed

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