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Koji Kondo: Nintendo’s Melody Maestro

February 14, 2023

What do popular video games franchises Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox all have in common? They were all produced and published by Nintendo, and the iconic music themes that you hear in...

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Taylor Swift on Industry Sexism and Music Rights

February 8, 2023

Being a successful woman in the music industry is no easy feat. Not only do they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of being a musician, but there are also gender-specific challenges.

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What’s the Ideal Length for a Single— Are Songs Getting Shorter?

February 8, 2023

“Is it just me, or are songs getting shorter these days?” This is a question I have often pondered, especially in the last few years. It appears that in the era of social media, attention spans are

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SG Lewis: Who Is He - and What’s Next For This Rising Star?

February 6, 2023

SG Lewis (Samuel George Lewis) is a rising star in the dance/electronic music realm. He is a DJ/producer turned singer-songwriter, and is known for his disco-inspired, transcendent sound. He routinely

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Lessons to Learn From the Launch Of Sam Smith’s “Unholy”

February 4, 2023

Sam Smith just released their new album “Gloria” on the 27th of January. As described by Pitchfork, “Gloria flips between hyperpop, country, dancehall, disco, 2-step, and intimate, Kehlani-esque R&B”.

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Are Virtual Idols the Future of Music?

February 5, 2023

Virtual reality and the metaverse have become popular topics in the music industry where more and more technology and music have been combined, creating something that could revolutionize the entire

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Grammy Awards Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical: The Category Songwriters Deserve

February 5, 2023

The 65th annual GRAMMY Awards are here, and there's a long-awaited addition to the awards. This year marks the introduction of a new category: the Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical Award. For all

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How Zach Bryan’s Authenticity Makes His Music So Appealing, Even to Non-Country Fans

January 31, 2023

Zach Bryan released his first album in 2019, and in the short time since he has become one of the biggest names in country. His biggest album, “American Heartbreak”, broke single-day album streaming

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Miley Cyrus is Going to Take Over Pop in 2023

January 31, 2023

Miley Cyrus was born into the music industry, and has spent her career channelling her Nashville and Hollywood roots into a diverse discography stacked with hits. Add to that countless covers that are

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Why This Pop-Rock Band Got Hate For Starting On YouTube

January 31, 2023

Before the invention of TikTok, many music artists gained popularity through YouTube. However, similar to the TikTok stars of today, people in the music industry saw ‘YouTube bands’ as lesser because

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Will Google End Work for Music Creators with their New Music AI?

February 1, 2023

Google has done it. They have created an AI that can generate music from text descriptions. The announcement of this is timely because recently Chat GPT, (a language learning model created by OpenAI

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The Road to Success: What qualities can we learn from Kpop Idols?

January 28, 2023

What does it take to be a professional singer in South Korea? On stage, these Kpop idols capture our attention with catchy songs and amazing choreographies, but what about off-stage? Behind the ...

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Blackpink’s Lisa Dominates iTunes with New Single ‘Rockstar’

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Music enthusiasts and aspiring creators, take note! Blackpink’s Lisa is making waves in the U.S. with her latest single, "Rockstar." Released late on Thursday, June 27, the song quickly shot up the American iTunes charts, showcasing the power of strategic releases and the dedication of her fanbase.

What makes Lisa’s success with "Rockstar" particularly interesting for music creators is the strategy she employed. Instead of just dropping one version of the song, Lisa released five distinct versions. These included the standard take, an extended version, instrumental, slowed down, and sped up editions, all bundled together as an EP.

This approach is worth studying for anyone looking to maximize their music’s impact. By offering multiple versions, Lisa ensures that different listening preferences are catered to, which can lead to increased sales and streams. Importantly, Billboard counts all versions of a single song as one entity, meaning every purchase and stream contributes to "Rockstar" climbing the charts.

As of now, the standard version of "Rockstar" sits at No. 6 on the U.S. iTunes chart, with the extended version not far behind at No. 8. The instrumental version holds the No. 15 spot, while the slowed down and sped up versions occupy Nos. 17 and 18, respectively. This impressive performance across multiple versions demonstrates the effectiveness of this release strategy.

For aspiring music creators, Lisa’s success is a case study in how to engage your audience with variety and keep them coming back for more. While "Rockstar" is currently a standalone single, it’s clear that Lisa’s innovative release tactics and the strong support from her fans are paving the way for future hits.

Keep this in mind as you plan your own music releases. Offering multiple versions of a track can cater to different tastes and keep your audience engaged, ultimately driving more sales and streams. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your music career to the next level, learning from successful artists like Lisa can provide valuable insights into the ever-evolving music industry.