I keep seeing threads of "major" artists that scored hits not being able to keep up 

 

Failing to chart, not being able to pull the same numbers 

 

Honestly Im starting to feel like it's normal to flop but to keep a line of hits one after the other is an absolute anomaly.

 

I think in the digital era it was the norm to have one hit single/album after the other but not now.

 

What do you think?

Not everybody can have an Olivia Rodrigo "SOUR" debut album 

Checking Gaga, seems possible to me

 

market is too oversaturated and attention is more divided than ever as a result, so yeah.

 

I think the norm going forward for breakout artists will be:

 

1. Smash breakout debut/era with one or two hits maximum

2. Second era with no sizable hits but modest album sales

3. Flop into oblivion 

The streaming era is full of one hit wonders thanks to TikTok.

Edited March 4, 20251 yr by Broken

consistency isn't contingent on the format artists release their product on. it's about building connection, sustaining existing customers and quality. If you prioritize those three components you are good to go. And I believe this is the key to consistency for practically all brands. Not just music artists

Not true. I know some girls that have been flopping pretty consistently in the streaming era

 

Consistency is easier than ever. It's all about abusing algorithms, prolonged playlist support, constant releases and collaborating with other artists.

 

The Weeknd is a perfect example. If this were the sales era, he wouldn't have half of the career that he does right now.

I don't blame the artist's, I blame the producers. So many of the formerly dependable ones have dried up of late and that has been reflected in the newer music they are producing.

TikTok has honestly destroyed the music industry. now all we get are trailer trash 2-minute-long songs and talentless tiktokers/artists scoring hits... 

Ariana middle name is Consistency

40 minutes ago, Maroonx said:

TikTok has honestly destroyed the music industry. now all we get are trailer trash 2-minute-long songs and talentless tiktokers/artists scoring hits... 

2 minutes song isn't a new concept though like in the 50s 60s songs were supposed to be that long

10 minutes ago, Funnyfatty said:

2 minutes song isn't a new concept though like in the 50s 60s songs were supposed to be that long

I know that, but it's been revived because of TikTok and stupid people with 30 seconds attention span. x

This is what happens when TikTok dictates what the general public likes now. 

It's obviously much harder, Billboard acknowledges it openly. May be easier to get a single hit if you have a viral moment, but establishing yourself as a successful artist is harder than ever. Monoculture is dead and attention spans are shredded.

For the most part, yes. 
 

For those who are expecting eras of past where albums could generate multiple singles at a time, that is an extremely rare accomplishment now.

 

To attain the above in the streaming era, artists will generally have to release multiple singles prior to the actual album release and then hope that a new single takes off upon album release or release a "remix" of said single. 
 

Now, even though radio airplay is still pivotal in the U.S, it doesn't hold the impact it did in the mid-2010's and prior where newly released singles (post album release) would generate enough airplay to climb the charts and then have digital sales for the single steadily climb in conjunction with that. 
 

We've had our streaming era blockbusters (Scorpion, SOUR, Midnights, After Hours etc.) but it doesn't compare to those of the physical or digital era since my opinion. 

I just wish TikTok hadn't cannibalised the industry also. It's been great for reviving older hits and nostalgia but then it's completely destroyed how we listen to new/modern music and songs and what the expectation of these songs are. 
 

Edited March 4, 20251 yr by GoodGuyGoneGhetto

Not necessarily a consistency problem. I think things just move much quicker now with streaming/social media, so pop careers have an even shorter lifespan (commercially speaking). 
 

During physicals or even digital era, an album cycle lasts longer which gave a longer time span for a pop star. Now the albums out and onto the next one which means your viability doesn't last as long.

Another thing I would add is that there less investment from fans in the artist. The death of the celebrity is real. 
 

It's much easier now to have a viral smash than to have a loyal fanbase that buys anything their fave has to offer. People aren't stanning new artists like the way people used to with artists from even a decade ago