Can't Get Much Higher

Can't Get Much Higher explores the intersection of music and data, focusing on the evolution of music industry practices, the impact of technologies on music consumption, artist-fan relationships, challenges in songwriting and music production, and the influence of global trends on local music scenes.

Music Industry Evolution Technological Impact on Music Artist and Fan Dynamics Songwriting and Production Challenges Global Music Trends

The hottest Substack posts of Can't Get Much Higher

And their main takeaways

You Don't Really Miss Blockbuster

1395 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
  1. Nostalgia for physical spaces dedicated to specific activities can be special and irreplaceable.
  2. More choices in media consumption can be overwhelming and may hinder deeper engagement with art.
  3. Having a 'third place' outside of work and home, like Blockbuster, can foster community and social interactions that are missing in today's digital world.

Writing Hits for Madonna, Celine Dion, and Demi Lovato: A Conversation with Billy Steinberg

2103 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
  1. Billy Steinberg's longevity in songwriting career is attributed to his deep passion for music and artistic vision.
  2. Steinberg's personal experiences, like heartbreak, inspired hits for artists like Madonna, showing the authentic and emotional origins of his songs.
  3. Successful songwriting combinations like Steinberg and Tom Kelly's emphasize the importance of competition, inspiration, and enduring appeal in creating timeless hits.

I Wish Buddy Holly Released More Bad Music

707 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
  1. Buddy Holly died tragically young, leaving behind a legacy of perfect music.
  2. The Winter Dance Party tour where Buddy Holly died was poorly organized and doomed from the start.
  3. Many talented artists throughout history achieved great success at a young age, highlighting the potential lost when they die early.

Why is Everyone Mad at Spotify?

1159 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
  1. Spotify changed how they pay artists, causing upset in the music community.
  2. Artists must go through distributors to get music on Spotify.
  3. Artists are paid based on a pro-rata royalty system, with earnings sent through distributors.

Where Are We Going and Where Have We Been? Music in 2023 & Beyond

884 implied HN points • 28 Dec 23
  1. AI-generated music is on the rise, impacting functional music, short loops, and impersonation.
  2. Manipulated music, like sped-up tracks on TikTok, is gaining popularity and changing how artists interact with fans.
  3. African music genres, such as afrobeats, are growing in global influence and may surpass hip-hop in popularity.
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tHiS is a p0$t ABOUT Song t!tl3s

1179 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
  1. Song titles historically reflected form or function of the composition
  2. Artists gained control over their intellectual property in the 1800s
  3. Evolution of popular song titles shows diverse stylizations and informalities

When Jessica Simpson Said My Name

609 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
  1. Jessica Simpson released 500 personalized versions of a song with people's names substituted in the lyrics.
  2. Despite the personalized versions being marketed, they have disappeared from the internet over the years.
  3. Similar personalized music concepts existed before and after, like CDs with children's names and AI-generated celebrity voice covers.

Listen to My Story 'Bout TV Theme Songs

1100 implied HN points • 05 Oct 23
  1. Some streaming services have a 'Skip Intro' button for TV theme songs
  2. TV theme songs have evolved from providing context to setting moods
  3. The number of notable TV theme songs has decreased, but quality remains high

Why Don't I Understand Pop Music Anymore?

766 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
  1. Older people are still discovering music, but usually not contemporary pop music
  2. Popular music is more difficult to keep up with as we grow older compared to movies and television
  3. Importance of music declines with age, but it remains significant and is often enjoyed in private contexts

Nothing is Forever on the Internet

1002 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
  1. The internet is not as permanent as we once thought.
  2. Musicians and artists can easily change or update their work online.
  3. Revisions in music can be influenced by changing tastes and standards.

How to Write a Song

628 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
  1. Many people love music but do not make their own songs.
  2. Collaboration and trusting your team are important in the songwriting process.
  3. Overthinking song details can be a flaw in the songwriting process.

What's the Point of the Billboard Charts?

746 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
  1. Billboard Charts determine the most popular songs for the music industry.
  2. Over time, Christmas songs have started dominating the pop charts in December.
  3. The underlying mechanics of Billboard Hot 100 have drastically changed since its creation in 1958.

What I Learned Going to 100s of Concerts - Part I

530 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
  1. The author tracked down every concert they've attended, recalling memories tied to the experiences.
  2. Concerts can bring unexpected surprises, like discovering a new favorite band or weather challenges.
  3. Attending concerts offers a mix of highs and lows, creating lasting memories and connections.

How Unprecedented is Taylor Swift's Popularity?

884 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
  1. Taylor Swift's popularity has grown steadily over 17 years.
  2. Comparing Taylor Swift to other artists, she stands out by peaking later in her career.
  3. While Swift's success is impressive, it is not unprecedented in the music industry.

Your Followers are not Your Fans

923 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
  1. Your followers may not necessarily be your fans.
  2. There is a positive, non-linear relationship between social media followers and venue size.
  3. True fans are those willing to spend money on your music or give their undivided attention.

Old Bands are Lying to You

904 implied HN points • 18 May 23
  1. Old bands may have different members and still keep the same name.
  2. Identifying a band's true identity can be complex and subjective.
  3. The music matters more than who is performing it, but be aware of potential imitations.

How Old is Too Old to Be a Pop Star?

746 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
  1. Many popular artists achieve A-list success before turning 30.
  2. While best-selling artists may have their peak early, they can continue to produce beloved work for decades.
  3. Success in pop music is often associated with young artists, especially when it comes to singles.

When a Genre Dies

864 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
  1. Song titles can reveal the rise and fall of musical movements.
  2. The Beach Boys survived the surf rock era by evolving their music.
  3. Tracking music genres can be done by looking for specific keywords in song titles.

I Made This Newsletter, I'm Never Going to Hell

805 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
  1. Artists often use self-reference in songs to create powerful effects.
  2. Self-referential lyrics can add depth and engagement for listeners.
  3. Self-reference can be a compelling tool when used subtly, but can come across as lacking creativity if overdone.

Would You Thank Your Mom or God First?

628 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
  1. In Grammy acceptance speeches, artists often thank their collaborators first.
  2. Grammy speeches tend to be boring, but become interesting when something unexpected happens.
  3. Record labels are no longer the first entity thanked in Grammy speeches as often as they used to be.

A Christmas Conundrum: The Search for the Missing One-Hit Wonder

452 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
  1. Many Christmas classics are sung by already famous artists.
  2. Most artists who have Christmas hits also have successful music careers outside of holiday songs.
  3. Gayla Peevey is a unique case of a true Christmas one-hit wonder.

Curating Songs for the Deceased

609 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
  1. Location of channels in radio lineups can affect how we remember music
  2. Sirius XM's business model includes satellite radio, Pandora, Stitcher, and SXM Media
  3. To retain subscribers, Sirius XM curates a diverse lineup of music, sports, news, and podcasts

Men Almost Never Perform Songs Written by Women

609 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
  1. Men rarely perform songs written by women.
  2. There is a need for more songs written by women.
  3. When women write hit songs, they are usually performed by women as well.

Did More Artists Die Young in the 1960s? Mailbag

314 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
  1. Popular songs typically use time signatures like 4/4, 3/4, or 6/8, but there are examples of hits in less common time signatures like 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, and 12/8.
  2. Recording music today can be done more affordably compared to earlier times, but major label singles may still cost tens of thousands of dollars for production, mixing, and studio time.
  3. There was a notable trend of artists dying young in the 1960s and 1970s, with some coincidentally passing away at age 27, sparking discussions around the causes like lifestyle choices or conspiracies.

The Medium is the Message: Changes in Popular Music Since the 1950s

589 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
  1. Popular music has evolved in terms of distribution mediums, from sheet music to streaming platforms like Spotify.
  2. The duration of popular songs has varied over the years, influenced by technology and economics.
  3. Changes in music production, like instrumental prevalence and danceability, reflect shifts in industry dynamics and consumer preferences.

Ending Sexism in Music: A Conversation with Thea Wood

334 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
  1. 2023 brought big wins for women in music, like Taylor Swift becoming a billionaire and SZA receiving nine Grammy nominations.
  2. Systemic gender bias in hiring contributes to unequal opportunities for women in the music industry.
  3. To improve gender equality in music, promoting women into decision-making roles and supporting local artists through live music experiences are key.

How "Country" are Country Artists?

569 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
  1. Controversy can make songs popular.
  2. Country artists often sing about small towns, but may not be from small towns themselves.
  3. Authenticity is valued in country music.

The Perils of Sounding Too Good

569 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
  1. Avoid sounding exactly like another artist to maintain long-term success
  2. Artists should aim to make their music unique and leave a personal mark
  3. Performing live should embrace the dynamic nature of music, allowing for change over time

Pop Songs Don't Need to Have a Chorus

530 implied HN points • 04 May 23
  1. Pop songs don't necessarily need to have a chorus to be memorable.
  2. The structure of pop songs has evolved over time, and the verse-chorus form is a more recent trend.
  3. Songs in AABA form showcase the importance of both verses and refrains for a well-rounded musical experience.

Every Song Bob Dylan Has Ever Played Live

314 implied HN points • 07 Jan 24
  1. Bob Dylan had the most variation in setlists during his early solo years before 1965.
  2. There was high setlist variation during the Rolling Thunder '76 tour compared to other years with a band.
  3. The variety in setlists on the Never Ending Tour gradually decreased over time, with a significant drop in song variation around 2013-2014.

Your Next Favorite Artist Will Be Your Neighbor

511 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
  1. Music streaming has made local artists more prevalent in their country's music charts.
  2. Streaming has enabled glocalisation in the music industry by driving production and distribution costs close to zero.
  3. Consumers show a preference for local flavor in music, leading to a rise in glocalisation.

Songwriting Therapy with Madonna, Beyoncé, and John Legend: A Conversation with Toby Gad

255 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
  1. Toby Gad has written many hit songs for top artists like Madonna, Beyoncé, and John Legend over the years.
  2. His music has played a significant role in many people's lives, often without them even realizing it.
  3. Toby Gad's approach to songwriting involves a deep emotional connection, considering lyrics just as important as melody.

Claude Stole Katy Perry's Song

452 implied HN points • 02 Nov 23
  1. The music industry is accusing an A.I. chatbot of infringing on a musical copyright.
  2. There are two types of musical copyrights: one for the composition and one for the sound recording.
  3. Artificial intelligence chatbots are raising legal concerns regarding displaying copyrighted song lyrics without proper authorization.

Why Songwriters Stink at Organizing

491 implied HN points • 20 Jul 23
  1. Songwriters have difficulty organizing due to legal restrictions.
  2. Musicians have organized strikes in the past, but songwriters face challenges due to their classification as independent contractors.
  3. There are structural differences between the music and film industries that make unionizing for songwriters more challenging.

The State of the Newsletter: 2023

314 implied HN points • 24 Dec 23
  1. 2023 saw significant growth in newsletter subscribers and views across 113 countries.
  2. Engaging titles contribute to higher email open rates in newsletters.
  3. Interviews with music industry professionals and engaging stories are key for reader interaction.

Should a Song Created with A.I. be Eligible for a Grammy?

471 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
  1. Ghostwriting a song with vocals from real artists should be Grammy-eligible
  2. Using impersonators for vocals with no involvement from real artists should not be Grammy-eligible
  3. Using A.I. to replicate artist vocals with no involvement should be Grammy-eligible

I Hope You Never Listen Alone

471 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
  1. The fear of AI-generated music leading to personalized listening experiences where you are the only one listening.
  2. Technological advancements in AI music generation could potentially create entirely new songs based on individual tastes.
  3. The abundance of content in the modern entertainment landscape may lead to more individualized and isolated music consumption experiences.

So, You've Gone Viral. Now What? A Conversation with Zerb & Sofiya Nzau

294 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
  1. Zerb and Sofiya Nzau collaborated on a song that went viral globally after meeting online.
  2. Success in music often requires years of hard work, not just overnight fame.
  3. Collaborating across countries and languages can lead to unexpected and powerful creations.

Are Music Critics Becoming Less Critical?

452 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
  1. Critics and the general public often have some overlap in music tastes.
  2. Over the past two decades, overlap between Pitchfork and Billboard lists ranges from 3% to 21%.
  3. Alignment between critics and the public hasn't significantly changed over time.

The Fight to Control Your Work is Just Beginning

432 implied HN points • 22 Jun 23
  1. Artists struggle to control their work, especially with artificial intelligence in music.
  2. Cheap recording and editing software means artists may lose control over their own songs.
  3. AI can generate music imitating artists, posing challenges for maintaining artistic control.