How Hard Is It To Produce A Hit Song?

There are so many one-hit-wonders in the global music scene that it makes you wonder how difficult it actually is to create a hit song. Sure, you get the same artists banging out tune after tune that sits near the top of the charts, but every now and then there’s a random person who’s come from nowhere and landed a big debut hit. Their music is played everywhere and anywhere until something new comes along and nudges it aside. Then, we hear absolutely nothing about the artist for the remainder of their career. 

The fact that anyone can seemingly score a hit - and that the same artists seem to have developed a formula for getting hit after hit - suggests that it isn’t too difficult to produce your own music and get into the charts. Certainly, nowadays, it is definitely a lot easier for you or I to sit at home, make a song and see it chart pretty well. With that in mind, what are the elements of a hit song in 2022 and modern times?

A catchy beat

The fact that dance music exists - and charts very well - suggests that the main beat of a song is one of the key things people look for. If you can produce a song that’s got a really catchy beat, it won’t even need that many lyrics. A phenomenal example of this is Barbra Streisand by Duck Sauce. It peaked at number 3 in the UK and number 1 in many countries across Europe, despite the fact it literally had lyrics composed of three different words! Before and since that release, Duck Sauce has failed to make any noticeable songs to back up this massive hit. 

Anyway, you need a catchy beat to draw the listener in. You’re trying to get an earworm effect, this means the tune sticks in their head and they hum it all the time. These days, it is very easy to make your own beats as you can buy loops and royalty-free beats online, then mix them together using basic music editing software. Play around with things until you’ve created a beat that you bop your head to, and you’re already halfway to having a huge hit. 

A strong social media presence

There has been a string of influencers and famous people that release songs and chart extremely well despite the fact the music is awful. Of course, music tastes are subjective, but it’s easy to see when someone charts well because of their online following rather than musical gifts. 

As such, you should focus on building a strong social media presence. Get a lot of followers on Instagram and Youtube, create a community that supports you. Now, when you release music, you’re guaranteed to have thousands of people flooding Spotify and Youtube, playing your songs on repeat. They might buy the music to support you as well, which allows you to drive it into charting territory. The musical purists out there will hate this, but that’s the way of modern music nowadays. 

A viral moment

Speaking of social media, if you can make your song go viral, there’s a massive chance it will blow up and be a hit. A recent example of this is Wellerman (Sea Shanty) by Nathan Evans, which is a sea shanty tune that went viral on TikTok. As a result, it got played over and over again on streaming services, catapulting it to the top of the charts. 

So, a good idea is to try and make music that’s very appealing to TikTok and can be used when people are making little short videos. This is the best way for it to go viral and leave you with a hit. 

What about lyrics?

Hang on, what about writing lyrics for your song? Well, this is where things can be a bit different. Some songs need no lyrics because the beat is so good. Others rely on deep and meaningful lyrics that people love. But, more often than not, catchy and relatable lyrics are going to lead to a hit. You want lyrics that are easy to remember and roll off the tongue very well. The chorus and bridge are particularly important - if you can get people singing these lyrics, your song is going to do well. 

Overall, the ingredients needed to make a hit song are not too difficult to understand. The biggest problem is getting seen by as many people as possible. This is why having a strong social presence is so important! Making music is also very good for you as it gives you something to do when you’re feeling stressed or down. It’s a great hobby to have, and you just might be the next big thing - who knows?!