David Penn

In the News

In this article published on Billboard.com on 11/26/2024, David Penn takes a look at the various influences that informed Shaboozey’s record Hot

Read More
How Shaboozey Took an ‘Old-Timey’ Yet ‘Modern’ Hit to No. 1: A Sonic Analysis of ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’

How has Swift’s songwriting and production evolved over the decade-and-a-half-plus since she first hit the Hot 100’s top 10? What stands out

Read More
Taylor Swift’s Songwriting and Production Analyzed: 13 Secrets to Her Chart Success

Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” is the full package when it comes to hit songwriting. Every aspect of the song is fully optimized

Read More
Taylor Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer’ Deconstructed: Strategic Hooks, Intriguing Lyrics & an Emotional Connection

With summer almost over — this article takes a look at the season’s biggest hits and reveals what the average summer smash

Read More
What Did the Songs of the Summer Sound Like?

Thanks to only guitar and vocals, and lyrics that have commanded the attention of the both the right and left politically, Anthony

Read More
What Oliver Anthony Music’s ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ Has in Common – and Doesn’t – With 2023’s Other Hot 100 No. 1s

Country music may feature unique elements like lap steel guitars, but a closer look reveals surprising similarities with today’s Hot 100 top

Read More
More Country Hits Are in the Hot 100’s Top 10 – But Are They That Different From Pop Hits?
>