Optimizing Your Song for Commercial Success Music excerpts and lyrics are used under Fair Use terms, for the purposes of commentary and criticism. AGENDA • Song Structure • Chorus Maximization Techniques • Strategic Section Optimization • Chorus internal strengths • Intro • Setting up the chorus • “D” (Departure Section) • Key Components: • Outro • Melody, rhymes, accompaniment, energy, genres and influences, lyrics, prosody, hooks © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 2 FORM Sectional Progression Variations IB VB IB VB PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O C VB IB A PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 3 FORM When Core Sections Occur (Avg. % Into a Song): 2019 IB VB IB VB PST PST A1 B1 A2 B2 D B3 I PC1 PC2 O 9% 20% 39% 50% 71% 75% C VB IB A PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 4 FORM When Core Sections Occur (Avg. % Into a Song): Three-Year Comparison 2019 A1 B1 A2 B2 D B3 I PC1 PC2 O 9% 20% 39% 50% 71% 75% 2018 A1 B1 A2 B2 D B3 I PC1 PC2 O 8% 21% 38% 52% 67% 78% 2017 A1 B1 A2 B2 D B3 I PC1 PC2 O 7% 21% 37% 51% 66% 76% I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 5 FORM Average Section Length: 2019 IB VB IB VB 0:17 0:15 0:17 0:15 PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O 0:12 0:26 0:14 0:22 0:24 0:14 0:23 0:20 0:25 0:20 T C VB IB A PC 0:05 I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 6 FORM Average Section Length: Three-Year Comparison 2019 I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O 0:12 0:26 0:14 0:22 0:24 0:14 0:23 0:18 0:25 0:20 2018 I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O 0:13 0:24 0:18 0:23 0:26 0:19 0:23 0:21 0:24 0:22 2017 I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O 0:13 0:23 0:19 0:23 0:23 0:19 0:23 0:23 0:23 0:21 I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 7 FORM Most Popular Section Bar Count: 2019 IB VB IB VB 8 4 8 4 PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O 4 8 4 8 8 4 8 8 8 4/8 T C VB IB A PC 2 © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 8 #1 HIT FORM EXAMPLES (2019) FORM Truth Hurts (#1 Hit / 22 Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10*) IB VB IB VB PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O VB A IB C PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. *Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10 as of Billboard Week 12/28/19 10 FORM Senorita (#1 Hit / 23 Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10*) IB VB IB VB B1 PST PST I A1 PC1 B2 A2 PC2 B3 D B4 O VB A IB C PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. *Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10 as of Billboard Week 12/28/19 11 FORM Sunflower (#1 Hit / 32 Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10*) IB VB IB VB PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O VB A IB C PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. *Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10 as of Billboard Week 12/28/19 12 FORM 7 Rings (#1 Hit / 16 Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10*) IB VB IB VB PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O VB A3 IB C PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. *Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10 as of Billboard Week 12/28/19 13 FORM Without Me (#1 Hit / 29 Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10*) IB VB IB VB PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O VB A IB C PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. *Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10 as of Billboard Week 12/28/19 14 FORM Thank U, Next (#1 Hit / 17 Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10*) IB VB IB VB PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D PC3 B3 O VB A3 IB C PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. *Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10 as of Billboard Week 12/28/19 15 FORM Girls Like You (#1 Hit / 33 Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10*) IB VB IB VB VB PST PST PST I A1 PC1 B1 A2 PC2 B2 D B3 O VB IB C A3 PC T I=Intro | A=Verse | PC=Pre-Chorus | B=Chorus | PST=Post Chorus | C=Bridge | IB=Instrumental Break | VB=Vocal Break | D=Departure | T=Turnaround | O=Outro © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. *Weeks in the Hot 100 Top 10 as of Billboard Week 12/28/19 16 First Section Optimization Techniques I A B A B D B O 0% 5% 20% 33% 50% 67% 75% 100% INTRO OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES Backing Music / Sparse Intro Technique The intro features some or all of the backing music that’s housed in the section that directly follows and possesses a sparse arrangement. • Instantly establish the vibe of the song • Provides room to build © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 18 Old Town Road (0:14 Intro) Lil Nas X INTRO OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES Backing Music / Sparse Intro Technique • Establishes and locks the listener into the song’s laidback vibe • Establishes the traditional country/blues influence • The adlibs foreshadow aspects of the chorus melody and whistle hook at the end of the song • The modern production qualities of the adlibs hint at the Pop and Urban direction the song will take • The intro doesn’t show all of the song’s cards allowing for the song to build © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 20 ZEZE (0:09 Intro) Kodak Black INTRO OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES Backing Music / Sparse Intro Technique • Vibe establishment • Seamlessly transitions the listener from the intro to the section that follows • A sparse arrangement will provide room for the song to build • A sparse arrangement will help highlight a key hook © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 22 INTRO OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES Multipart Intro Technique Elements are added to or removed from specific segments within the intro. • Helps maintain engagement • Different intro segments can have different purposes (hook establishment, groove lock, influence and vibe establishment, etc.) © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 23 I Like It (0:14 Intro) Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin INTRO OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES Multipart Intro Technique New elements are added to or removed from specific segments within the intro. • Multiple, diverse segments helps to keep the listener engaged • Different segments can have different purposes (hook establishment, groove lock, influence and vibe establishment, etc.) • Other notable hits that use the multipart technique: • When Doves Cry (Prince) / Thrift Shop (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz) • Shape Of You (Ed Sheeran) / Sicko Mode (Travis Scott) • Circles (Post Malone) / Roxanne (Arizona Zervas) © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 25 INTRO OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES Hook-Based Intro Technique © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 26 Señorita Shawn Mendes / Camila Cabello INTRO OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES Hook-Based (Senorita – 0:16) © 2010-2020 Hit Songs DeconstructedTM. All rights reserved. 28 “D” (Departure) Section Optimization Techniques I A B A B D B O 0% 5% 20% 33% 50% 67% 75% 100% “D” SECTION OPTIMIZATION TECHNIQUES Role of a “D” Section “D” Section is a classification of a song section or sections that occur around two-thirds of the way into the song that provide a pronounced lyrical, vocal, instrumental, and/or energy level departure compared to the other sections.