From our top workout songs of 2023 to the hottest artists for fitness, FMG curators are breaking down all the music trends heading into 2024.
Inside Music Curation Episode 43 | 2023 Wrap-up
Recap:
At Feed Media Group, we are dedicated to helping businesses power music in apps. Today, we have our esteemed colleagues from the music curation team here to talk about all things related to music curation; from genres to use cases and music trends.
In this episode, we break down all the music trends heading into 2024.
00:00:00 - 00:35:00
From our top workout songs of 2023 to the hottest artists for fitness, FMG curators discuss the music curation industry in 2023 and break down all the music trends heading into 2024. According to the report, pop music remains the most popular genre in digital fitness apps, with female-driven music being highly motivating. Female artists made up nine out of the top ten most streamed songs in 2023. The report also notes the crossover success of elements of dance and hip-hop within pop music, as well as the revival of hip-hop music in nostalgic throwback stations, driven by interpolation technology and the resurgence of older genres such as pop punk. The trend towards nostalgia, combined with new technology, has led to an exciting year for music curation, with customers desiring more diverse and innovative control. The team also discusses their focus on Latin music in the areas of workout music and curation, highlighting the creativity across genres and sub-genres in this genre. The speaker discusses the emphasis on songwriting in 2023, noting the influence of artists like Taylor Swift and the importance of assembling a strong backing band. They also highlight the influence of women and girls in the music industry. The YouTube video's host discusses various trends and developments in music in 2023, including thoughtful and satirical lyrics, the sad boy music scene, and their favorite album. They also discuss the rise of AI in music production and the continued popularity of K-pop, with a focus on the craft and skill of K-pop artists. The speaker promotes a blog and podcast of an amazing group of colleagues and friends, encouraging viewers to tune in for more music curation-related content.
00:00:00 In this section of the video, the team at Feed Media Group discusses their findings in the 2023 workout music report. According to their report, pop music continues to be the top genre for digital fitness apps, but it's an evolving genre. Female-driven music, in particular, was highly motivating for their end-users. Nine out of the ten most streamed songs in 2023 were by female artists. They also saw a crossover success within pop music, with elements of dance and hip-hop. Additionally, they noted that dance clubs have reopened after the pandemic, leading to faster-paced music being commercially released. Throwback music was also a big genre in the charts.
00:05:00 In this section, the video discusses the trend of hip-hop music in a nostalgic throwback station. With the use of social media and catalog tracks, there is a revival of interest in older releases that can be found by younger audiences, as well as older demographics looking for their favorite songs from their "Golden Era" decades. There is also a focus on listening to less popular songs from the past. In addition, interpolation technology is utilized to make new hits that sound familiar. Pop music is also affected by these trends, with the resurgence of pop punk and other genres from the millennial era. This is evident in the popularity of festivals featuring these artists and the feedback received from end-users and clients. Overall, the trend towards nostalgia and the incorporation of new technology has made for an exciting year for music curation.
00:10:00 In this section, the speaker discusses some of the trends and innovations in music curation that took place in 2023. They talk about customers' desire for more diverse and innovative control, as well as the rise of TikTok and how it is driving new music trends. The speaker also mentions their expansion into new markets beyond Fitness, such as Wellness and Nature sounds, and their efforts to provide customers more nuanced and customized music options.
00:15:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the human-reviewed music curation process, which involves human curators giving songs a rating of either clean or explicit based on the lyrics and content of the song. They also note how this process has become more nuanced this year, with a focus on explicit content in addition to drugs or sexual content and violence. The speaker stresses the importance of understanding the nuance of this content and how it may impact customers, especially brands. They also mention the importance of diversity in music curation and the increasing popularity of Latin and Mexican music styles, including Corrido's music.
00:20:00 In this section, the team discusses their focus on Latin music in the areas of workout music and curation in 2023. They explicitly state that they are excited to see an explosion in creativity across genres and a blending of styles. The creator also highlights the impact of their own experiences on their musical tastes, such as their passion for country music and how their move to Nashville expanded their musical horizons. Stephen Wilson Jr's album "Son of Dad" is highlighted as an album that greatly impacted their taste in country music. Overall, the creator is excited about what the future has in store for Latin music and its sub-genres.
00:25:00 In this section, the speaker discusses the emphasis on songwriting for 2023, noting how it has become increasingly popular among younger artists and is often inspired by the work of artists such as Taylor Swift. They also highlight the importance of assembling a strong backing band, as seen with the all-female backing band featured in the Boy Genius album. Additionally, the speaker highlights the influence of women and girls in the music industry, using examples such as Lucy Dix, Haley Williams of Paramore, and Kamasi Washington. They also discuss the importance of fun, uplifting music amid an increasingly difficult world landscape, using examples such as the music of Chromo.
00:30:00 In this section, the speaker discusses various trends and developments in music in 2023. They discuss thoughtful and satirical lyrics, the collaborative album "Bright New Disease" by Boris and Uniform, and the sad boy music scene in general. The host also discusses their favorite album, "Sad Boys Sad Boys for Life" by Mazy Star, and shares links for future listening. The host wraps up the video by thanking their guests for contributing to music discussion and sharing insights.
00:35:00 In this section of the video, the speaker discusses the use of AI in music production and how it has already been employed to create soundscapes for albums and holiday songs. The speaker also describes the continued rise of K-pop and the increased popularity of large supergroups, despite the absence of some prominent groups on hiatus. The speaker highlights the craft and skill of K-pop artists and looks forward to seeing more of them in the future on the Billboard charts. Additionally, the speaker promotes the blog and podcast of an amazing group of colleagues and friends, encouraging viewers to tune in for more music curation-related content.
Thank you for joining us today, and we hope you enjoyed this 2023 wrap-up. Stay tuned for more exciting discussions on music curation in future episodes.
About the live video series:
At Feed Media Group (FMG), our music curation team excels at handpicking music for businesses. While technology and analytics play a vital role in the curation process, it is the expertise, curiosity, and ability of our music curators to bring the world around us into focus that truly sets our music stations apart.
By staying attuned to pop culture trends and understanding the wider societal context of songs, we are able to craft exceptional music stations. It is this connection, context, and attention to detail that distinguishes our stations from those generated by even the most advanced algorithms used by major streaming platforms.
Come on a journey with us as we delve into the fascinating world of curating music for businesses and brands. We will explore everything from the practical applications to the user experience, taking a deep dive into genres, audience preferences, data analysis, and the latest trends.
Live on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, the first Wednesday of the month at 1pm Pacific.
2 min