Shazam’s Peter Szabo on the Top Songs of the Season–and Where They’re Going
Ah, the fall. The fiery tones of changing leaves. The bubbling laughter of children in the pumpkin patch. The aromatic tang of freshly milled cider.
You can add to these hallmarks of the season Shazam‘s top 5 songs to look out for as autumn looms. The list includes songs that are already huge as well as ones that Shazam’s data indicates will be soon.
2. Kiesza, “Hideaway” (Island)
3.Milky Chance, “Stolen Dance” (Republic)
4.Tove Lo, “Habits” (Island)
5.Meghan Trainor, “All About That Bass” (Epic)
Shazam SVP/Head of Music Peter Szabo agrees, noting that “Bass” made the Top 10 of the summer. “She’s just getting going,” says Szabo, who notes the #1 most Shazamed song is usually tagged about 10-20% more than #2, but Trainor crushed that ratio.
“She’s had days when she’s doubled the #2 song,” he marvels. “She’s killing it. And the #2 song would stay the same, but she’d keep bringing more people in. I don’t remember anything in recent history that’s done that. This song is ridiculous.”
It’s very early days for Mr. Probz, which Szabo says is “overperforming” based on comparatively less airplay than its competition. He points out that Tove Lo’s “Habits,” which is currently #7 at iTunes and blowing up at radio, has maintained a steady Shazam rate.
Republic’s Milky Chance, he notes, “is one of those sneaky slow ones that’s been building” and is a particular favorite in the Shazam offices. Szabo compares it to Sam Smith’s adoption by listeners in early summer, when the buzz caused music fans to claim ownership.
Szabo says “Cool Kids” by Warner Bros.’ Echosmith has been growing and “picking up more trajectory” and would probably be #6 on the fall list. He also points to “Girl in a Country Song” by Dot/Big Machine Label Group’s Maddie & Tae. “That song is outperforming its weight class on the Country side,” he says. “We think there’s a story there as well.”
Szabo’s other fall gainer: “Take Me to Church” by Columbia’s Hozier, which he says “is just getting going” and which occasions a similar level of listener ownership.
Random fun fact from Shazam’s mountain of data: The city where Shazam tags most often turned into purchases? Dallas, where conversion averaged 10%.
Oh, and while we’re at it, the five most Shazamed songs of the summer, from the music-data agglomerator’s Top 50:
2. Nico & Vinz, “Am I Wrong” (Warner Bros.)
3. Disclosure, “Latch” (Interscope)
4. Sam Smith, “Stay With Me” (Capitol)
5. Clean Bandit, “Rather Be” (Atlantic)
Two of the Top 5 above, it’s worth noting, are covered on the new EP from Pentatonix, PTX Vol. III (RCA), which streeted this week.
Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to go point our phones at stuff. It’s a fall thing.
