Artists’ Chart Careers: A Study of How They’ve Changed Through the Years

Storm Gloor
University of Colorado Denver

Abstract

An analysis of 1955–2009 Billboard charts reveals that artists’ development, measured by chart performance, has noticeably changed. For example, on average, today’s artists exhibit respectively less time on a chart than they did 50 years ago. A quarter of these artists are one-hit wonders that last less than a week. Similarly, many more new artists entered into these charts in 2009 than ever before. Yet, although these new artists released many more albums in 2011 than in 2000, several of these albums were simply given away. All this, coupled with artists’ recent tendency to release shorter EPs rather than full-length albums, indicates a shift to output more consistent material through easier means. Therefore, as it is even more fleeting now than ever before, artists should take full advantage of success while they experience it.

Keywords: artist development, music sales, music tracking, Billboard, recording industry, music industry

Gloor, Storm. “Artists’ Chart Careers: A Study of How They’ve Changed Through the Years.” Journal of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association 12, no. 1 (2012): 159-178. https://doi.org/10.25101/12.6