So here are links to two articles on a study done at Columbia University on what influences people’s tastes in music. It turns out that “quality” of the music seems to be the least of the determiners of its success. That may sound counter-intuitive, but that’s what these researchers found.

While people do genuinely seem to like some songs better than others, their preferences change once they know what other people like, Watts and colleagues found. “The popular things become more popular and the less-popular things get less popular,” Watts said.

Actually, it’s not really a secret that was newly discovered – publicists have known about this for a long time. This is how “pop stars” can be created – just look at American Idol.

The study illustrates why it is important to get your music (and yourself) out there. The more exposure that you get, the more a buzz is created; and the more of a buzz that you can create the more it all snowballs in your favor. Check out the articles and see for yourself.

Your Taste In Music Is Shaped By The Crowd
Study: Little Rhyme Or Reason To Picking Hits