HIGHLIGHTS - Q1 2020 - Compositional and Industry Trends for the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 - Hit Songs Deconstructed
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Q1 2020
THE STA
ATE OF THE
HOT 100 TOP 10
HIGHLIGHTS
Compositional and Industry Trends
for the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10
The State of the Hot 100 Top 10 takes an in-depth look at Q1 2020's
compositional and industry-related trends for the Billboard Hot 100
Top 10. What follows are a few highlights from the report.
ARTISTS............................................................................................................................................PAGE 3
SONGWRITERS............................................................................................................................PAGE 6
PRODUCERS..................................................................................................................................PAGE 10
RECORD LABELS........................................................................................................................PAGE 13
COMPOSITIONAL TRENDS..................................................................................................PAGE 16
Data is for songs that charted in the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 and excludes
holiday songs.
Data related to compositional characteristics are propriety to Hit Songs
Deconstructed.
Artist, songwriter, producer, label and charting information are aggregated
from the PRO’s, Billboard, and streaming platforms.
All credits are from the date songs entered the Top 10.
At times percentages may not add to 100% due to numbers being rounded up
or down.
Production teams (i.e. The Audibles) are counted as a single producer.
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 2 of 24
Performing Artists
Select Report Highlights
(Q1 2020)
Performing Artists
There were 20 primary artists
23
PERFORMING
ARTISTS
and 3 featured artists in the Hot
100 Top 10 in Q1 2020. Only two
scored a #1 hit, Roddy Ricch and
20 3
PRIMARY FEATURED
ARTISTS ARTISTS
Post Malone.
#1
HITS
Primary Artists
Roddy Ricch
1 1 12
TOP 10 HIT #1 HIT WEEKS IN THE TOP 10
The Box
Post Malone
1 1 13
TOP 10 HIT #1 HIT WEEKS IN THE TOP 10
Circles
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 4 of 24
Performing Artists
Only two artists scored more than one Top 10 hit, Justin Bieber and
Lil Uzi Vert.
Primary Artists with More than One Top 10 Hit
Songs
Yummy
Intentions
10,000 Hours
3 11
TOP 10 HITS WEEKS IN THE TOP 10
Justin Bieber
Songs
Baby Pluto
Lo Mein 3 1
Silly Watch TOP 10 HITS WEEK IN THE TOP 10
Lil Uzi Vert
Songwriters
Select Report Highlights
(Q1 2020)
Songwriters
Three songwriters landed three or
91
CREDITED
more Top 10 hits, Poo Bear, Lil Uzi SONGWRITERS
Vert, and Justin Bieber.
Songwriters with More than One Top 10 Hit
Songs
Yummy
Intentions
10,000 Hours
3 11
TOP 10 HITS WEEKS IN THE TOP 10
Poo Bear
Songs
Yummy
Intentions
10,000 Hours 3 11
TOP 10 HITS WEEKS IN THE TOP 10
Justin Bieber
Songs
Baby Pluto
Lo Mein
Silly Watch
3 1
TOP 10 HITS WEEK IN THE TOP 10
Lil Uzi Vert
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 7 of 24
Songwriters
Songwriting team sizes of five or more have consistently been the
most popular, while writers who go it alone have been few and far
between. The only solo writer in Q1 2020 was Toni Watson (Tones and I).
Songwriter Team Size
Q1 2020
80%
60% 57% 57%
40%
20% 17% 17%
5+ Songwriters
4% 4%
0%
MOST POPULAR
5+ 2 4 3 1
#1
HITS
Songwriters
Roddy Ricch
30 Roc Kaan Gunesberk
The Box
The Box Circles
Post Malone Billy Walsh Frank Dukes Louis Bell
Circles Circles Circles Circles
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 8 of 24
Producers
Select Report Highlights
(Q1 2020)Producers
There were six producers with credits on
37
CREDITED
PRODUCERS
more than one Top 10 hit.
Producers with More than One Top 10 Hit
Poo Bear Bugz Ronin Brandon Finessin
Intentions, Yummy Baby Pluto, Lo Mein Baby Pluto, Lo Mein
FINNEAS OZ Max Martin
everything i wanted HIGHEST IN THE ROOM Blinding Lights
Lose You To Love Me Life is Good Stupid LoveProducers
Producer team sizes of two remained the most popular in Q1 2020,
accounting for 43% of songs. 30% were produced by one producer
and only 21% were produced by team sizes of three or more.
Producer Team Size
Q1 2020
60%
43% 43%
40%
30%
20% 17% 2 Producers
MOST POPULAR
4%
0%
0%
2 1 3 4 5+
#1
HITS
Producers
30 Roc
The Box
Frank Dukes Louis Bell Post Malone
Circles Circles Circles
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 12 of 24Record Labels
Select Report Highlights
(Q1 2020)Record Labels
Atlantic and Interscope landed the most songs in the Top 10 with five
songs each. Atlantic also scored a #1 hit, The Box, which remained in
the top spot for 11 weeks.
Atlantic Epic Warner
10 Columbia Interscope Warner Music
RECORD Def Jam Republic Nashville
LABELS
EMG Vertigo
Labels with the Most Top 10 Hits
Atlantic Q1 2020 Atlantic 2019
Genre Breakdown Genre Breakdown
100%
100%
80%
57%
50% 50%
29%
Atlantic 20% 14%
Five Top 10 Hits 0% 0%
Hip Hop/Rap R&B/Soul Hip Hop/Rap R&B/Soul Pop
One #1 Hit
Interscope Q1 2020 Interscope 2019
Genre Breakdown Genre Breakdown
100%
100%
80%
64%
50% 50% 36%
20%
Interscope 0% 0%
Five Top 10 Hits Pop Hip Hop/Rap Pop Hip Hop/Rap
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 14 of 24This was one of the most thorough,
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well-presented and thought out
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THE HIT SONG
understanding of the music he was
teaching about.
MATRIX
" - Jay Rodriguez , Grammy-nominated
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composer, producer and arranger
Amazing workshop, I wish this type of
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HitSongsDeconstructed.com/matrixvocalsHot 100 Top 10
Compositional Trends
Select Report Highlights
(Q1 2020)Hot 100 Top 10
There were 23 songs that charted in the Hot 100 Top 10 in Q1 2020, 13
of which entered the Top 10 for the first time.
23 2
Hot 100 Hot 100
Top 10 Songs #1 Hits
Adore You Lo Mein
13 Baby Pluto
Blinding Lights
ON
Silly Watch
NEW SONGS IN Don't Start Now Stupid Love
THE HOT 100 Godzilla The Box
TOP 10
Intentions Yummy
Life Is Good
Staying Power: Weeks in the Top 10 in Q1 2020
12
10
10
8
5
5 4
2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0
x od w ts s my ou to lla in ON h e
Bo Go No igh tion eY Plu dzi Me atc Lov
The I s St a r t g L t e n Yum o r b y G o L o y W p i d
Life n't din In Ad Ba Sill Stu
Do Blin
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 17 of 24#1 Hits
In Q1 2020, only one new song charted at #1, The Box.
11 Weeks at #1
Primary Performing Artist: Roddy Ricch
Songwriters: 30 Roc, Roddy Ricch
Producer: 30 Roc
Record Label: Atlantic
Key Compositional Characteristics
Primary Genre: Hip Hop Key: Bb Minor
Sub-Genres/Influences: Classical, Trap Form: I-B-A-B-A-B-O
Lead Vocal Delivery Type: Sung & Rapped First Chorus Appearance: 0:16 / 8% of the
Combo way into the song
Lyrical Themes: Boasting, Lifestyle Prominent Instruments: Bass
Song Title Placement: Chorus (Synth), Claps, Drums/Perc (Primarily
Length: 3:16 Electronic), Piano (Electric), Strings (String
Tempo: 58 BPM Section), Synth (Non-Bass)
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 18 of 24Primary Genres
Primary Genres
Though pop fell in popularity by almost half
from 2016 to 2018, the genre has seen a 70%
prominent resurgence over the last two
years. By Q1 2020, 57% of songs belonged to
60% 57%
the pop genre compared to only 35% hip hop. 50%
R&B/soul continued on its downward 40%
35%
trajectory, dropping to just 4% of songs
30%
during the first quarter of the year, with the
sole representative being Lizzo's Good As Hell. 20%
Country saw a similar turnout, with its sole hit
10%
being the Justin Bieber and Dan + Shay
collaboration, 10,000 Hours.
0%
Hip Hop/Rap Pop
Dance/club/electronic, rock and Latin were all
no-shows.
Hip Hop vs. Pop
Hot 100 Top 10
80%
70% 68%
59% 58% 57%
60% 55%
50% 52%
50%
43%
39%
40% 35% 35%
32%
30% 28% 27% 28%
20% 18%
10%
2 018 2 018 2 018 2 019 2019 2 019 2019 2020
Q2/ Q3/ Q4/ Q1/ Q2/ Q3/ Q4/ Q1
Hip Hop/Rap Pop
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 19 of 24Sub-Genres & Influences
23
SUB-GENRES & 18 3 2
INFLUENCES Sub-Genres Geographic Time-Period
IN THE TOP 10 Influences Influences
23 diverse sub-genres and influences shaped the sound and vibe of Q1 2020's Hot 100 Top 10
hits. Pop was the most popular influence across the Top 10 for the fourth straight quarter,
followed by hip hop and trap rounding out the top 3. These three influences have consistently
made up the top 3 since Q2 2017.
The quarter's two time-period influences stem from the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to hits such as
Adore You and Blinding Lights, respectively. The quarter's geographic influences have roots in Asia
(Lo Mein - Chinese; ON - Korean) and the tropics (Memories - Reggae).
Singer/songwriter has been on the rise and held steady for the second quarter in a row at 22%
of songs, which is its highest level of popularity in over five years. Among the diverse hits that
possess the influence are Post Malone's Circles and Selena Gomez's Lose You To Love Me.
Retro 1970s reached its highest level of prominence in over five years thanks to songs such as
Harry Styles' Adore You and Lizzo's Good As Hell.
Singer/Songwriter Retro (1970s)
Q2 2018 - Q1 2020 Q2 2018 - Q1 2020
30% 30%
22% 22%
20% 20% 17%
14% 13%
10%
7% 8%
10% 10% 5%
4%
0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
0% 0%
2/2018 3/2018 4/2018 1/2019 2/2019 3/2019 4/2019 1/2020 2/2018 3/2018 4/2018 1/2019 2/2019 3/2019 4/2019 1/2020
Trap Hip Hop
Q2 2018 - Q1 2020 Q2 2018 - Q1 2020
100% 83% 79% 90% 93%
73% 70% 100% 85% 80%
56% 55% 57% 64% 64% 65%
43% 52%
50%
50%
0% 0%
2/2018 3/2018 4/2018 1/2019 2/2019 3/2019 4/2019 1/2020 2/2018 3/2018 4/2018 1/2019 2/2019 3/2019 4/2019 1/2020
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 20 of 24Sign Up for A PREMIERE
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Purchase price: $549 HitSongsDeconstructed.com/subscribeSolo vs. Multiple Lead Vocalists
After steadily decreasing in popularity from 2015 to 2018, songs with a solo lead vocalist have
been on the rise, accounting for 78% of Top 10 hits in Q1 2020.
Solo lead vocalists have been on the rise both within and outside of the hip hop genre.
Outside of hip hop, 80% of Q1 2020's Top 10 hits featured solo lead vocals, a near even match
with songs within the hip hop genre (75%).
Solo vs. Multiple Lead Vocalists
Q1 2020
100%
78%
50%
22%
0%
t ts
lis lis
ca ca
Vo Vo
ad ad
Le Le
o
ol le
S tip
ul
M
Hot 100 Top 10: Hip Hop Hot 100 Top 10:
2016 - Q1 2020
Non-Hip Hop
2016 - Q1 2020
100%
75%
68% 65% 100%
61% 80%
50% 69% 63%
39% 52% 58%
50% 32% 35% 48% 42%
25% 50% 31% 37%
20%
0% 0%
2016 2017 2018 2019 Q1 2020 2016 2017 2018 2019 Q1 2020
Solo Lead Vocalist Solo Lead Vocalist
Multiple Lead Vocalists Multiple Lead Vocalists
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 21 of 24Lead Vocal Gender
Male lead vocalists continued to dominate in Q1
2020, accounting for 74% of Hot 100 Top 10
hits. Female leads trailed far behind at 26% of 85%
songs, and there were no songs that featured a HOT 100 TOP 10
male/female duet. MALE LEAD VOCALS
Outside the hip hop genre, songs with a male lead
vocalist remained the most popular, accounting 60%
for 60% of Top 10 hits during the first quarter of NON-HIP HOP SONGS
2020. Songs with a female lead accounted for 40%
MALE LEAD VOCALS
of hits, their highest level of prominence since Q4
2014.
Within hip hop, the disparity between male and
100%
female lead vocalists is much greater. During the HIP HOP SONGS
first quarter of the year, all songs featured a male MALE LEAD VOCALS
lead vocalist.
Lead Vocal Gender
Q1 2020
100%
80% 74%
60%
40%
26%
20%
0%
0%
e e e
al al al
M em e m
F F
e/
al
M
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 22 of 24Song Length
In 2019, average song length was 3:10 and 36% of
songs were under three minutes. This is
57%
significantly lower than the averages for the
previous five years (2014-2018), when average song
length ranged between 3:43 and 3:34.
SONG LENGTH RANGE
However, in Q1 2020 average song length increased
3:00 - 3:29
to 3:17 (from 3:01 in Q4 2019) and only 22% of songs
were under three minutes in length.
Song Length Range 3:17
2019 vs. Q1 2020 AVERAGE
80% SONG LENGTH
60% 57%
40% 36% 38%
22% 19%
20% 13% 9%
7%
0%
Under 3:00 3:00 - 3:29 3:30 - 3:59 4:00 +
2019 2020
Average Song Length
2016 - Q1 2020
400
337 342 336
350
310 317
BPM
300
250
200
2016 2017 2018 2019 Q1 2020
Average
© 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 23 of 24WANT MORE?
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COMPOSITIONAL TRENDS
Whether you want to work with
2019 VS. Q1 2020..............................................PAGE 34
trends or against them, by staying in Primary Genres.................................................PAGE 43
tune with today's hit song landscape, Sub-Genres & Influences.........................PAGE 46
Lead Vocals...........................................................PAGE 54
you'll gain critical insight that can be
Lyrical Themes..................................................PAGE 61
used to make strategic songwriting, Instruments........................................................PAGE 65
production and business decisions. Key...............................................................................PAGE 70
Tempo.......................................................................PAGE 73
INDUSTRY PLAYERS Song Length........................................................PAGE 77
Performing Artists...............................PAGE 6 Song Form............................................................PAGE 82
Songwriters.............................................PAGE 15 First Section/Intro..........................................PAGE 84
Producers..................................................PAGE 19 Pre-Chorus...........................................................PAGE 89
Record Labels..........................................PAGE 23 Chorus.....................................................................PAGE 92
Post-Chorus........................................................PAGE 96
SPOTLIGHTS Instrumental & Vocal Breaks................PAGE 100
Q1 2020 New Arrivals............................PAGE 26 “D” (Departure) Sections...........................PAGE 103
Q1 2020 #1 Spotlight.............................PAGE 32 Last Section/Outro/Endings..................PAGE 106
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