7 Reasons Why Music Albums Have Fewer Songs

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7 Reasons Why Music Albums Have Fewer Songs

Postby Marsbar » Sun Sep 06, 2015 4:19 pm

An interesting read.....not sure I agree with every thought written hear...

1. People have a shorter attention span these days

We now have fast food, fast cars, fast service, pretty much fast everything! (Especially here in the United States.) Many people no longer have the patience to wait simply because they do not have to. Corporations are catering to the motto that “delivering fast” is great business. Many researchers have attributed people’s short attention spans to new technology (like smart phones) and social media. We simply love to have things quick and right now. With that in mind, many people like their music the same way, quick and to the point! More songs on albums these days may began to bore the listener. Having 10 great songs becomes more enjoyable than 7 great songs and 10 average tracks. Listeners have evolved and like getting to the point. The Huffington Post wrote an article on how short attention spans may be killing the music business. Well, one thing is apparent. People like to listen to great music quickly and not have to go through uninteresting music to get it. Many albums are shorter because of this.

2. Having fewer songs means less production cost.

Referring to the monetary value that it takes to make an album, quality albums can be expensive to produce. The average professional studio can cost anywhere between $50 -$150 per hour. Many artists spend about 4-8 hours on each song in the studio. Then the album has to be mixed, mastered, and distributed. Cost can dramatically increase from there. Having fewer songs on an album can cut down costs in studio time (if the artist is not a work-a-holic), reduce the cost of digital distribution, and makes marketing easier to attract more fans.

3. People are no longer paying for music.

This has become a hard pill to swallow for the music industry. With pirating being a huge hurdle, streaming services allowing listeners to have unlimited access for a monthly fee, and the overwhelming introduction to new artists on a daily basis, many people are no longer paying for music the way they once did. Sales have declined in a major way. It was once popular to purchase an artist entire album just to listen to your favorite song. With the introduction of digital distribution, people can purchase one song on the album for as little as .99 cents. With the introduction to streaming services, a listener can pay a small monthly fee and have unlimited access to all music leaving the artists to only make $0.01 for each play. Paying for music seems to almost be eradicated. Artists and record labels may believe that a short simple album may potentially save costs and increase brand awareness. Touring and syndication are still the best ways for an artist to get paid. Many labels have adapted the strategy of increasing an artist brand to make money on touring and getting their music syndicated, not in album sales. We no longer live in the age where fans would buy any and everything from an artist due to brand loyalty.

4. Shorter albums are a great way to test new music

When an artist changes their musical style or tries different things from their normal routine in song, spending resources on a full 20-song album may not be wise. Having fewer songs on the album has allowed many record labels to “test the waters” on new music to see how fans and listeners respond to it. This can give an artist direction on what fans may like in the future.

5. Filler songs are no longer desired on albums.

Filler songs were used on albums for decades. These songs were not single hits that you would hear on the radio. They were average songs that filled an album to make a complete project. They were created to support radio singles to get customers to buy full albums. Today, not many people purchase albums as they do singles. The focus has changed with digital distribution. Fans look for as many hits from artists as possible. Many labels now focus on having more hit singles to generate more sales. Records now have 5 of more radio singles before releasing a 10 song album. Fillers are becoming non-existent. Removing undesirable fillers definitely makes for a shorter album. The customer can hear and feel if the project is rushed and packed with filler songs.

6. Short albums are a good introduction for new listeners.

Like we stated in point number 2, people like things short and sweet especially if they are listening to someone’s music for the first time. Having a shorter album allows for people to hear the artists creative talents. The new listener is more likely to like more songs on the album. It is easier for the listener to remember the track list of the album as well. This helps the listener remember that remarkable tune that they liked on track number 3.

7. Like the old saying goes, “quality over quantity”.

The music industry has changed drastically over the last decade. Albums have fewer songs on them, but one thing holds true. It is better to have fewer songs on a record that are of pure quality than a ton of music that is mediocre. For record labels, it is easier to not only produce a radio hit, but to also market the albums quality for potential sales. Many artists benefit from giving their listeners a taste of their best stuff, so that they want more from an artist. The more quality tracks that they produce, the more likely an average listener will become a long-term fan.

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Marsbar
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