Music Charts Show Decline of Bands, Rise of Solo Artists
A recent analysis by DataPulse Research and Skoove, an online music education provider, has revealed a significant shift in the German music charts over the past 30 years. The study, reported by the Welt am Sonntag, shows that the proportion of bands in the charts has been steadily decreasing.
In the year 2010, bands accounted for about a third of the chart rankings, but by 2024, this figure had dropped to just six percent. This decline is linked to the growing popularity of electronic dance music (EDM), a genre often dominated by solo artists. The analysis, which covers 30 years of chart history, also highlights the impact of collaborations between solo artists, which now account for a significant portion of chart-topping songs.
Examples of such collaborations include “Shallow”by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, as well as “If Only”by Andrea Bocelli and Dua Lipa. In the past year, such productions occupied 48 percent of the chart rankings, according to the study.
“It’s perhaps inevitable that collaborations have become so popular”said Dominik Schirmer, a musician and director at Skoove. “They bring the double star power of solo artists and enable each artist to win over their own fan base and that of their collaboration partner, increasing their visibility and chances of chart success.”
The study also suggests that it is easier and more cost-effective for record labels to manage solo artists. Streaming services like Spotify, which have become a dominant force in the music industry, have also favored solo artists, featuring them prominently in specific playlists.
“It’s no coincidence that no band is to be found in the top 10 of the most-streamed songs or the top 10 of the world’s most-played artists in 2024″the study concludes.