What it takes to have a #1 song

[Esper]

So, what does it take for at artist to dig their way out of obscurity and make it to the top of the charts?

Does talent alone get you there? Does persistence? Having your song covered on Glee? All of these things? None of these things? Share your thoughts.

 

[Cherrim]

It seems to me like it's part talent and part marketing. I'd like to say it's mostly talent, but people like Ke$ha have made it to the #1 slot and while I'm sure she can actually sing when she has to, the studio versions of her songs sure don't sound like it because they're 100% auto-tune. :(

There's definitely some persistence and dedication to your trade involved, but I imagine a whole lot of it is more based on who you know and how much money your record label thinks you'll bring them. A decent number of artists make it to the top with genuinely great songs but a whole lot more of them--no matter what time period they're from (so not just recent auto-tune dance stuff)--always sound exactly the same to me when a radio station plays the top 10 so it's like it has more to do with what's being promoted at the time than what's genuinely good and liked.

 

[Percy Thrillington]

Sex appeal, a catchy melody and clever marketing. Or just a blind stroke of luck like someone covering your song on the X Factor, but by then it's probably been in the charts already anyway.

 

[Abnegation]

A nice ass and repetition.

 

[Eruption]

In this country you just need a good dance production and then ridiculous playtime from Radio 1. Sex appeal helps I guess.

Then once in a while something with some deep meaning might make it.

Edit: In USA, feature Minaj or Lil Wayne and you're in.

 

[Oryx]

Connections. Get promoted by the right people, and you have a pre-made fanbase from there to work with. Then the actual song comes into play - whether or not it's catchy, easy to sing along to, etc. But certainly it's a lot more about who you know over how well you play.

 

[Sydian]

Sexual lyrics that actually don't make sense when you read them, a nice photoshopped face, a beat that can be heard in every other song on the radio, and Pitbull.

 

[YungKnowledge]

Seems to be that the name has to be all over twitter and the rest of the internet and just really lame or insane lyrics that get stick in people head.

 

[lovebear]

A good songwriting team, a good production team, a good producer and marketing campaign, and lastly a good looking face.

Being a # 1 song on a mainstream chart doesn't make it necessarily 'good' though. It just means it's really accessible.

 

[Princess Diana]

In the UK it often seems like the song must be carefree and without meaning to get to #1.

 

[Mr Cat Dog]

Here's a list of 2012 Billboard Hot 100 singles, for reference:

'Sexy and I Know It' - LMFAO
'We Found Love' - Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna
'Set Fire to the Rain' - Adele
'Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)' - Kelly Clarkson
'Part of Me' - Katy Perry
'We are Young' - Fun ft. Janelle Monae
'Somebody That I Used to Know' - Gotye ft. Kimbra

All of these have an inherent listenability to them. And yes, listenability isn't really a word, but it should be, dammit. They're all easy to listen to, follow a set musical formula with little-to-no deviation. The first four have already established fanbases, but the last two are interesting in having driven up interest through other means - Glee and commercials for Fun, and YouTube for Gotye. Like the movie industry, it appears that 'hit' music is becoming more and more established on known-properties that either have a lot of success already behind them directly or indirectly. And then of course there's the radio, and the fact that people who buy singles are more likely to base their decisions on what they keep hearing on the radio, as opposed to reading album reviews or generally stepping out of their comfort zones. 'Cause if more album-buyers bought singles, the charts would look very different indeed.

 

[Treecko]

Here's a list of 2012 Billboard Hot 100 singles, for reference:

'Sexy and I Know It' - LMFAO
'We Found Love' - Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna
'Set Fire to the Rain' - Adele
'Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)' - Kelly Clarkson
'Part of Me' - Katy Perry
'We are Young' - Fun ft. Janelle Monae
'Somebody That I Used to Know' - Gotye ft. Kimbra

All of these have an inherent listenability to them. And yes, listenability isn't really a word, but it should be, dammit. They're all easy to listen to, follow a set musical formula with little-to-no deviation. The first four have already established fanbases, but the last two are interesting in having driven up interest through other means - Glee and commercials for Fun, and YouTube for Gotye. Like the movie industry, it appears that 'hit' music is becoming more and more established on known-properties that either have a lot of success already behind them directly or indirectly. And then of course there's the radio, and the fact that people who buy singles are more likely to base their decisions on what they keep hearing on the radio, as opposed to reading album reviews or generally stepping out of their comfort zones. 'Cause if more album-buyers bought singles, the charts would look very different indeed.

^I have to agree on this for most part. The songs in the Top 40, especially whatever's number one, are easy to listen. They have catchy and dancey beats with just as catchy lyrics (usually overly sexualized and have no meaning) that people can easily sing along too. Although I listen to any of the above songs alot except "We Are Young" , they all get tons of airplay. There's also a ton commercialism involved. I'm a fan of fun. myself,even before their major popularity, and their first album was released in 2009. Although it had tons of positive reviews, it didn't receive as much attention as their current album Some Nights. This is obviously because Some Nights has 'We Are Young" on it and the song only gain popularity due to Glee's cover and commercial use. Another example would be Neon Tree's "Animal". The song gained tons of popularity when it was the Free download of the week on Tap Tap Revenge 3. Owl City, one of my favorite artists, is another prime example. His song "Fireflies" was The Free Single of The Week on iTunes and weeks laters was number one on the charts. Though Adam Young, or Owl City already had a pretty big fanbase, he didn't gain massive popularity until "Fireflies" hit number 1.
The producers are also a big part of it. Dr. Luke, for example, is one of the most famous producers who helped mad people like Katy Perry and Ke$ha popular. Dr. Luke has produced and co=produced many of the number ones that are on the charts today and number ones in the last 5 years. A good majority of songs in the top 40 today were produced by him. Get any famous producer or songwriter together and you have a #1 hit.
Lastly, good looks help alot. It seems that the people with sex appeal or is "hot" or "cute" are the ones making today's hits. And most of the popular artists only have the good-looking appearance and not much or little actual talent.

 

[Gabri]

Sex appeal, a catchy tune (or not), altered voices (preferably with autotune) and a major company to promote it. You don't need any.kind.of.talent, which effing enrages me.

 

[Lt. Col. Fantastic]

...to have your song appear in a teen girl movie, such as Twilight would help.

 

[Her]

You don't need any.kind.of.talent, which effing enrages me.

Although I understand where you're coming from, you do need some talent to thrive in the mainstream music industry today. Not much, I'll give that to you. Take Rihanna, for example. Even though nowadays her music has become less soulful and more ULTRA SEXY PROMISCUOUS BOOTY MUSIC, her A Girl Like Me era is a shining example to the time where she had bucketfuls of talent that relied on her singing and not her ability to repeat semi-understandable words over and over to the beat of drums or David Guetta or whatever. She does have talent, whether it be used appropriately today or not. I believe that if she made more music like Unfaithful, she would lose the label of being a talentless **** and remind people how she got so popular in the first place.