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

American Pop, Chinese Pop, and Some Feedback

19 implied HN points • 22 Dec 22

The newsletter is seeking feedback for future content
Songs like 'Baby Love' and 'Numb Little Bug' have contrasting emotions in lyrics and music
Faye Wong's '浮躁' blends dreamy guitars with restlessness

Why Christmas Music Makes Me Sad

19 implied HN points • 15 Dec 22

Nat King Cole's music, though popular during Christmas, is enjoyed year-round by many listeners.
Peach Tree Rascals combine rap and rock genres with a unique style suitable for today's audience.
Nat King Cole's song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" remains a classic, showcasing his talent in jazz music.

The Most Influential Rapper and Sad Acoustic Ballads

19 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22

The most influential rapper according to data analysis is Lil Wayne, with the most links from other rapper's Wikipedia pages back to his.
Tupac, despite being considered one of the greatest, had fewer direct influences on other rappers in recent years based on the data.
Music production can greatly impact our perception of a song, as seen with a different acoustic version of a Taylor Swift track.

Eminem, Mazie, and the Importance of Bad Music

19 implied HN points • 20 Oct 22

Sometimes bad music is just as important and influential as great music
Artists are embracing the trend of releasing sped-up versions of songs to cater to audience preferences
Old Eminem songs like "Till I Collapse" hold up because they pay tribute to other great musicians

Mommy, Why Did You Name Me Doja Cat?

1 HN point • 04 Jan 24

Parents are getting more creative with naming their children, influenced by popular music and cultural trends.
Naming trends have evolved over the years, with more experimentation and shifting gender associations.
Popular music can have short-term effects on baby naming, with some names enjoying long-lasting popularity due to musical influences.

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Is the Grammy for Best New Artist Cursed?

1 HN point • 30 Nov 23

Winning the Grammy for Best New Artist is sometimes associated with a curse that leads to a decline in career success.
Despite some winners experiencing career setbacks, there are also successful Best New Artist winners like The Beatles, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Adele.
Analyzing the success of Best New Artist winners between 1960 and 2023 showed that many of them went on to have successful music careers.

How Musicians Get Paid: Pt. 2

0 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23

Artists get paid based on their share of streams on a platform.
Alternative methods like time streamed share can make payouts fairer.
Increasing the size of the payment pie through programs like Supporters can help more artists earn a living.

Bridges, African Beats, and Forgotten 80s Music

0 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22

A great bridge in a song can elevate it to a higher level.
African music is on the rise and is likely to crossover into the mainstream music scene.
Exploring forgotten 80s music can lead to discovering unique and intriguing songs.

Discovering the Next Christmas Classic

0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 22

The greatest selling Christmas song of all time is 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby.
In the last 20 years, Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' has become a popular Christmas classic.
The next potential Christmas classic could be one of two songs written in the last decade.