Posted on 02/09/2006 12:23:22 PM PST by laney
People like a song more when they think other people like it too, a new study suggests. But the interactions between individual and group opinions are so complex that it is impossible to predict whether a good song will be a hit or a flop, according to researchers who asked people to rate the quality of music by unknown bands.
Sociologists Matthew Salganik and colleagues at Columbia University in New York, US, recruited more than 14,000 people to visit a website with 48 songs by relatively unknown bands. People could listen to songs, rate them, and then decide whether to download them.
One group of participants saw only the names of songs and musical groups. Other participants also saw how many times a particular song had been downloaded by others. Both groups broadly agreed about which songs were good and which were bad.
But participants who could see how often a song had been downloaded tended to give higher ratings to songs that had been downloaded often, and were more likely to download those songs themselves. That created a snowball effect, catapulting a few songs to the top of the charts and leaving others languishing.
Different worlds But a track with hit potential does not always become a hit, it seems. The researchers divided the socially influenced group (which could see the download information) into eight different "worlds", so that only the downloading decisions within that world were visible.
They found that the same songs did not always make it to the top of the charts. For example in one world, a Milwaukee pop punk band called 52Metro were stars, reaching number 1 in the download charts. In another world they were losers, ranked 40 out of 48.
"From outside of the industry, it seems like music executives can create stars at will. But we only see the ones that become successful. We don't see all the failures," Salganik says.
Locked in Final chart positions were not entirely random though. For example, all of the songs that were hits in the socially influenced groups were also rated as good by the group with no access to the download information. And the results did not reflect a simple "lock in" effect – i.e. a song that got an early lead did not necessarily maintain that lead. But beyond that, Salganik says, the dynamics are hard to understand.
"This is very exciting research,” says Michael Macy, a sociologist at Cornell University, Ithaca, US. "What they're addressing is a puzzle – why is it so difficult to predict what will be a hit movie or a hit song?"
For hopeful start-up bands, the results mean good news and bad news, Salganik says: "Even if you haven't made it yet, it doesn't necessarily mean it's low quality music – you could just be unlucky. But it also suggests that even if it's high quality music, you might not become successful
One more other thing..When I say *Mob* it's because when I went to post over there, I spoke privately to a couple of them through private mail and it was good conversation decent respectful and I hoped to make PEACE as I always think's it's better to show love than hate in most every situation. Anyways when they got back on the site with everyone I became the *Illiterate Druggie Skank* again..
They were embarrassed to say to thier possee, dang I spoke with her and she might be cool folks...
I call that fair weathered friends and I imagine that is how many of them are in real life..
Most of my best friends that I still have from High School and past jobs do not live around me or are out of state, I appreciate the friendship I have found here on FR with people like yourself...
Never forget you have someone who thinks highly of you!
BTW: I see this is a hopeless cause with most of you, so in closing ya'all try and remember most of you don't live in Southern Ca because you cannot afford it. The areas you mentioned Annyo are over 500k and higher, also minutes from the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the best weather in the U.S most of you I assume will be digging vehicles out of snow this weekend.
So while DD has fun flying her plane and I have fun driving my vette with the top down at the beach I hope you all find something exciting to do this weekend...
Maybe one day we will all get along..Miracles happen..
PEACE!
Hey Annyok-Such a Classy broad you are such fine language for a gal who lived in SD driving a Jag..How did the women greet you at the Rancho Santa Fe Country Club????
BTW: I saw you're profile page when you were on FR, interesting trade of lifestyles I would say....
Guess I hit a nerve here..Don't fool yourself most people cannot afford to live in Southern Cali that's a fact..
I was born and raised here I know the bad and good of Cali but it has the best weather ever and you all know it! We have every enviroment in this state, Beaches, Deserts, Mountains, Culture and lifestyle..
But glad you all left the ones that DID live here it's way to crowded.
Wev-Babycakes you could not afford to live in my neigborhood and if Annyok knew Cali like she said she does then she would know this area in Shadowridge where (As well as Northern Cali) there is no crime and gangs...Yeah Sure Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar
La Jolla have terrible gang problems...And I am sure if I wanted to sell and move to some one horse town I would not have a mortgage either, but I would rather live where my family lives and enjoy the sunshine 365 days a year.
Boat is nice but if I want to do that I can use my folks or my in-laws... Since I lived in Florida which I hated Florida has the best beaches ever especially down in the Panhandle Mexico Beach, Destin and Pensacola. I would rather have ideal weather than a lake or a warm beach those areas are for visiting....
If all that's available is Alpo and Mighty Dog, then one or the other is going to be very popular -- especially if Emiril prepares it.
This study proved NOTHING.
That really was quite unintelligible.
I was wondering where you were...
LOL..Agreed!
LOL.....Yes it does!!!!!!!!!!!!
So many girls' with Pilot Envy!!!
I just read this and it made me think of our little freaks.
People are eternally divided into two classes: the believer, builder, and praiser; and the unbeliever, destroyer and critic.
—John Ruskin
Plus, I hope they don't kiss their wives/husbands, children, grandchildren with those mouths. Filthy, filthy language.
Oh, well, I guess it is easy to make fun of people, call names, etc...when you have never actually met the person. To each their own.
I just find their obsession with you strange. Their hatred is seething and I might be concerned about one of them showing up on your doorstep.
Anyway, have a great weekend and see ya around!
Thanks for your deep concern, missyme. I've been busy with real life, although every once in a while I check in on this circus.
Not even.
Mind your own business.
Thanks Yellowdog, yeah I have no idea what thier deal is they proably wish they could come to my house!!!
They just need some water and a Spray..
Feel sorry for them they have no idea how to make friends.
Maybe they need Charm School?
HAHA...I do have a real name it's Susanne...
I knew you were one of those circus workers!
And you steely are you faxi?
LOL! Yea, maybe....:)
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