The secret to writing short songs (and why you should!)
In the digital era, a short song can be the secret weapon of an artist looking to get heard and boost their music career.
In today’s fast-paced world, we are overwhelmed with options and content. Whilst this shouldn’t take away from your creativity as an artist, adapting to this pace can help you to stand out above the crowds and enhance your potential.
Attention spans are dwindling. This shift in consumer behaviour has changed how people interact with music. One of the most effective adaptations artists can make is to embrace the trend of shorter songs.
In this article we’ll look at why short songs can boost your music, how to go about making one, and how to capitalise upon short songs to further your career.
What is a short song?
First of all, we need to define how short a song actually needs to be to be considered “short” in the first place. To do this, let’s look at the average length of a song on the Billboard Hot 100, representing the most popular tracks of the moment.
Billboard’s Hot 100 reveals an average song length of around three minutes. Interestingly, this is a decrease from an average of over 4 minutes in 1990, proving that audiences are consuming shorter song lengths.
So, a short song is anything up to around 2 minutes and 30 seconds, before it gets close to an average length. On many streaming services, a song won’t earn revenue unless it is 30 seconds or longer, so we can define that as the minimum length you want for a short song too.
Why is a short song good for artists?
Habits have changed and listeners are preferring shorter songs. A short, impactful song can hook listeners immediately, increasing the likelihood of repeated plays and shares. These repeated plays mean higher traction and revenues for artists on streaming services.
Short songs are also great because they are well suited for use on popular social media platforms. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have skyrocketed in popularity. Shorter songs are perfectly suited for these platforms, making it easier for your music to go viral.
Grammy-nominated songwriter, Erika Nuri Taylor, writes: “The attention span for any entertainment has changed a lot. People are interested for two minutes and then they want to switch to the next thing – the next song, the next video, the next TikTok. It’s constant scrolling and bouncing around.”
How to craft a compelling short song
You can approach a shorter song in much the same way you would your longer songs, it’s still music after all. However, we can provide some tips that will help you to make your song shorter, impactful, and optimised for gaining reach on both streaming platforms and social media.
- Focus on the Hook: The hook is more crucial than ever in a short song format. Make it catchy, memorable, and instantly recognisable.
- Streamlined Structure: A concise song structure is essential. Consider a stripped-down arrangement with fewer verses and choruses.
- High-Impact Production: Invest in professional production to ensure your short song packs a powerful punch.
- Experiment with Genre: Shorter formats can be a playground for experimentation. Try blending different genres or creating unique sonic landscapes.
- Leverage Visuals: Create engaging visuals to accompany your short song, maximising its potential on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Once your short song is created, release it to the world with RouteNote. Artists can distribute unlimited releases to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as to the music libraries of video platforms including TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts with a free account at www.routenote.com.
For more advice on making an impact with your song once it’s released, check out our recent article on making the most of your presence on TikTok to blow up.
You can and should create songs of any length, there is definitely still a place for longer songs – particularly if you created them with meaning. However, bolstering your catalogue with shorter songs and a strategy to expand your reach with them can help your career trajectory move upwards.