The importance of playlists in the life cycle of a song

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to discuss the significance of playlists in the lifespan of a song. It aims to expand knowledge of what happens behind the scenes and how much effort is put into playlist construction. The matter is approached by gathering data from online articles and interviewing representatives of the music industry who are in some way in regular contact with playlists. Some of the several ways a song can be selected to a playlist are addressed in this thesis. The information is mostly time-bound as the industry is continually changing.

The selection of songs for playlists requires careful consideration. Playlists always serve a higher purpose that is not directly visible to the audience, and a regular person concentrating on enjoying music seldom gives it a thought. It was found that playlists today play a significant role in music marketing, and algorithm-based recommendations will become more prominent in music listening in the future. Radio has maintained its popularity in Finland and continues to play a significant role in artist development. New ways to promote music will presumably rise in the next few years and at some level, change the music industry.

The thesis includes a media segment consisting of four songs and a narration describing the goals and intentions behind each one.