What Makes a Hit?

What makes a hit? Is it the groove? The melody? The chord progression? Certainly it is the culmination of these things that make a song memorable. However, the structure can certainly help the share-ability, and replay-ability of a song.

There are various different components to a song’s structure. A song typically starts with an introduction. An intro should capture the attention of the listener. Take Kanye West’s “Power”, or “Good Life“ for example. The moment you press play, a fresh ear will be interested to hear where it goes. Kanye is a mastermind at grabbing people’s attention.

After the introduction, a song will either go into the chorus (or hook) or start the first verse. A great chorus hooks the listener -- hence the name. The chorus should be the most memorable part of the song, as it is often repeated throughout in between verses. 

When structuring your song, you may want to think of the listener. An intro too long could lose a lot of people’s attention. Bringing in the hook before the first minute of the song can help to keep interest. Verses that are almost as catchy as the hook help contribute to memorability. Starting a song with the hook, and leaving the hook off the end could make someone hit replay to hear their favorite part again (resulting in one more stream). 

It only takes 30 seconds to get paid from the stream, but can take less than 1 second to lose someone’s attention. Grasp them quick.

All that being said, these “rules'' should be taken with a grain of salt. Take a moment to consider why you’re making the song, and who its for. If its for you and you alone, these “rules” are completely trivial. If you’re trying to write your breakout single, these are just some trends worth considering.