This Song of the Summer Thing is Very Confusing

August 3, 2014 Alan Cross 0 Comments

I’m soooo over this “song of the summer” nonsense. As far as I’m concerned, this is just something to hype pop songs at a time for declining sales. At the same time, though, it does allow for some interesting statistical analysis.

For example, what sort of metrics should we use to determine the biggest song of the summer? Radio airplay? Sales? Streams? Downloads? All of the above? And what if there isn’t a clear winner?

This is the kind of thing that fascinate’s number cruncher Nate Silver. His website, FiveThirtyEight.com, took at look the most ubiquitous songs of the summer. This year, we don’t seem to have any consensus on which songs is biggest.

See the problem? Read more here.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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