From vinyl records to viral TikToks, what determines a hit song has changed dramatically over the last century. Songs across the world have been climbing hit charts for years, ever since commercial sheet music sales skyrocketed when Edward B. Marks and Joe Stern released “The Little Lost Child” in 1894. With the rise of the digital age, however, social media has changed what we perceive as a hit song. But what is often considered pop music comes and goes with time. In this day and age, some people argue that today’s pop and hip-hop hits sound universally similar.
Certain songs have both topped charts and changed what success looks like in the music industry. One example is Lil Nas X‘s “Old Town Road,” which broke records when it was released in 2019. It became the longest-running No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 with 19 weeks at the top. The song sold well over 14 million copies worldwide and achieved 15x platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Initially gaining notoriety from the viral “Yeehaw Challenge” on TikTok and a remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, it showed how the digital age has affected how success is measured in the industry.
In the past, radio play, record sales and cultural influence mainly determined a hit. A song was typically considered a hit if it placed in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 or the Top 75 of the UK Singles Chart. While record charts and 45 rpm singles were popular in the ’50s and ’60s, digital singles have dominated the 2000s and beyond. Radio stations exposed people to a wide range of music, with broadcasts themselves reaching millions of listeners simultaneously, like The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” became defining hits of their respective decades — the’60s and the ’80s.
But all of that has changed. Now, with everyone glued to their phones, the ease of typing on keyboards makes it easier to express opinions about music through social media, reshaping how we think about and discuss music. Social media has become a driving force in shaping a hit’s influence. Platforms like Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube have revolutionized the music industry, making music more accessible and easier to find and often shaping the trajectory of a song’s future as well as a singer’s career. As a result, they’ve changed how artists are compensated and even how users discover new music.
With the rise of platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X, songs can go viral at the drop of a hat, which can seem both shocking and not at all surprising to avid social media users. For example, Olivia Rodrigo‘s “drivers license” became a cultural phenomenon as a result of the rise of social media, and marketing played crucial roles in determining a song’s success.
From being a carefully timed release, following in the footsteps of Taylor Swift — known for her meticulous marketing strategies including knowing exactly when and what to tease — Rodrigo capitalized on Swift’s tactics with albums like Sour (2021) and GUTS (2023) when she used cryptic social media hints, hidden messages in lyrics and well-timed announcements. This use of media strategies, which particularly appealed to teens, sparked widespread conversations on TikTok and Instagram. On the other hand, Clairo grew dedicated followings from DIY campaigns through Bandcamp and social media, while Doja Cat‘s “Say So” blew up on TikTok, using clever marketing tactics to make it the viral dance challenge it is today.
Still, how a song affects us remains one of — if not the — most powerful part of what makes it connect. A song that taps into emotions like love, heartbreak, joy or nostalgia makes a song feel real to a listener. That’s how it becomes a timeless hit, not just a fleeting trend. When a song makes you feel something emotionally and culturally, it resonates with listeners on a deeper level. Whether you’re moved by Adele’s “Hello” for its haunting lyrics and soaring vocals or by Childish Gambino‘s “This Is America” for its message about racial inequality, what makes a song a hit is its ability to make you feel something, regardless of genre or style.
With the growing influence of social media and streaming platforms, success is now measured in chart positions, streaming numbers and how well they do on social media — even nostalgia plays a role. For instance, Fleetwood Mac‘s “Dreams” re-emerged after decades, going viral on TikTok and breaking streaming records, with 8.47 million streams in its first week in the United States.
In this new era of music, humans are determining what makes a hit, now more than ever before. While numbers affect its success, they don’t capture the beauty of the song’s emotion that makes it timeless. So, are hits truly made, or do they simply happen? It’s hard to say. Maybe it’s a combination of both. But what is clear is that by taking away algorithms and marketing campaigns, listeners ultimately choose which songs become hits and which fade away.
