Music Industry: Top 40 Music
June 22nd, 2008Top 40 music is contemporary music that appeals to listeners between 12 and approximately 54 years old. Although the primarily listener is on the younger end of that spectrum, Top 40 music seems to appeal to everyone. What is particularly fascinating about Top 40 music is its versatility. From rock and R&B to country and pop, it seems that Top 40 has something for all music lovers.
Top 40 Music Appeal
The phrase Top 40 refers to a radio music format where the 40 most popular songs are played regularly over the course of a week. Radio stations monitor listener response (in terms of phone requests and research) to increase or decrease the number of times each song would be played for a week. In that light, the importance of memorable melodies and lyrics is even more pronounced.
Due to the fact that so many people seem to like Top 40 music (or at least some aspect of it), it makes sense that there are so many Top 40 radio stations. Easy to listen to and with lyrics that are direct and memorable, Top 40 stations appeal to people of all ages and tastes. In addition to radio stations, music video television stations have also played a role in Top 40 music popularity. Thanks to the advent of MTV, the image of the Top 40 artist has become just as relevant to the potential Top 40 success of the music as the music itself.
If you are thinking about trying to break into the Top 40 music medium as an artist, you had better be prepared to submit something unique. While the most versatile, the Top 40 market is also the most saturated. Hundreds of thousands of music star hopefuls try each year to break into the business to no avail. So before you start hitting up the labels, make sure your sound is clean, your music is catchy, and you have a good manager.