What's the secret behind pop's biggest hits?

What makes a pop hit? We talk to the industry's biggest and brightest about the formula of the pop and how they filter through to our daily lives. Starring Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Nile Rodgers, Kylie Minogue, Nicole Scherzinger, Wayne Hector and The Vamps

[AhmedMohamed-bqpn]

I feel as a hit song usually consist of a universal message which appeals to the masses and uses a catchy chord progression which has play back value

[edgepunk]

Max Martin writes your hits that’s the secret

[sole]

Surprised no one mentioned branding in this. People connect with songs when they can identify with something in themselves. Metal, Pop, Classical, whatever. People are drawn to the brand.

[crazedoutlook]

Nothing revealed here. Just a bunch of major label artists being evasive and kissing up to each other.

[sleeplezznightz]

1:46
Nirvana - Teen Spirit
Michael Jackson - Thriller

[superorin]

I like a song if it is an original song not sounding like any other songs and I think that's what makes a song popular.

[caelrowley]

I have to disagree, nearly every single pop song is about love, and the reason they become pop hits is not because of some "secret recipe" or because they are original but because they follow a familiar recipe that everyone already knows so they can get into the song the moment it's started because it is so similar to all of the other pop songs, so it is in fact how unoriginal and familiar the songs are that make them so popular.

[jamesbedugraham]

The main key is to get cathchy tune so that one can get unto the Radio or TV station out there.
However the big powers control the airwaves out there.

[haaazzziiim]

These days it’s all about a distorted song sounding kinda thing. Where it gets weirder by the day. And people find it as something diffrent. So that’s why. U don’t need to have a good vocal or a good instrument skill. It’s all about the song.

[Hyvitetty]

If you really want to know it's a child prodigy, today and adult, just one person, that has written all of them, alone.

[glennpagemusic]

Whoa... People watch what they want to watch on social media??? Tell me more, Ed...

[simrybak]

i know less than before watching this video. 😳

[watercolourmark]

It’s hard being creative, what do you do? Go pop and go for the cash, or work hard being original and go for glory. Like, Calvin Harris, you can’t take away his pop credentials, but it isn’t original or insightful, chords from 90’s dance with more modern beats, with an ear for a good hook - but nobody is going to be talking about him like he is Bowie or Prince in the future. And if anyone does then they need to get a life. Also, Max Marin, more hits writer then Lennon/McCartney and produced more hits than George Martin, but it’s all a bit of the same, good solid pop tunes, but nothing truly beautiful, brilliant or game changing - he is rich, I guess that is what counts in his world.

[sleeplezznightz]

5:30
It is brainwashing. That's exactly what it is. Pop is simple, consumable, repeatable songs that chant in your head like a Disney lullaby. Repetition. Over an over. Get it stuck in their head with repetitive, simple 4 measure beats and hooks, power chords tuned to the c5 octave, quick simple words, enough for them to repeat. Its genius. Makes quick cash. Let's face it. Nobody listens to those songs for more than a season. Its empty, but it's soo money.

[devidasa]

How about discussing the craft of songwriting???

[SamFlores]

I gotta say I don't understand their accent I can barely understand american English 😅

[nyacoustics]

dont agree with the video. plenty of artist have blown 1 million plus dollars and the song totally sucks and sells next to nothing.

[montysloungetv]

if you have one favorite song- let alone one that's surfaced as yiur singular in this generation - you have neither listened or lived long and adepthed enough

[SwappingIsSaving]

Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran on songwriting. You've got to be f joking.