1. Quantifying MusicTom GilbLightning Talk at ACCU 201225 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb1

2. What is the problem,in quantifying music?Can you quantify this music?25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 2 3. Lean QA Audience at ACCU Surely you cannot quantify Music ? I claimed we can quantify any variable quality of any system I replied: Ill do it in a lightening talk here at ACCU25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 3 4. Black-Eyed Peas song I gotta Feeling gets 8.9 of 10from Hit Song Science software25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb4 5. Theres no magic in that; its math "[Its] a series of algorithms that we use to look atwhats the potential of a song to be sticky witha listener ... To have those patterns in the musicthat would correspond with what human brainwaves would find pleasing CEO David Meredith A study conducted by the Harvard Business School found that the software was accurate 8 out of 10 times http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11367332425 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb5 6. Measurable Attributes of HitsMeredith says his software evaluates songs over sixty elements includingMelody RhythmHarmonyFullness of soundTempoNoisePitchBrillianceOctave Chord progressionBeathttp://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/07/spiritof.music/25 February, 2013Copyright Gilb6 7. Evaluation by what people buyand industry awardsTop TenScale: Number of sales in a given time periodiTune DownloadsScale: Number of sales in a given time periodSilver, Gold and Platinum DiscsAwarded when total number of sales reach specific levelsIndustry AwardsScale: Percentage of the major awards recognising themusic in a defined [manner: default=won]25 February, 2013Copyright Gilb7 8. So How Did I Gotta Feeling Do? The song reached number one on the US charts and 20 charts worldwide "I Gotta Feeling" spent fourteen consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, thelongest-running number-one single of 2009 "I Gotta Feeling" was 5th on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade In March 2011, it became the first song in digital history to sell over 7 million digitalcopies in the United States. Worldwide it has sold over 14 millions units, becomingone of the most successful songs in the history of popular music "I Gotta Feeling" holds the record as the most downloaded song on iTunes of all time The song was nominated for Record of the Year at the 52nd Grammy Awards andwon the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals The song was nominated as Song of the Year at the 2009 World Music Awards25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb8 9. YouTube Measures Number of Likes and Dislikes11,021 Likes, 371 Dislikes (April 26, 2012) Number of times video has been viewed5,942.649 Views (April 26, 2012)25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb9 10. Jeremy YudkinBoston University ProfessorGreat music is about Deception: the creating and violating ofexpectations Concision: content against timeNot a note too many, not a second too longhttp://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/faculty/yudkin/25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb10 11. By Survey: Most Wanted Attributes Yudkin reports on a web-based survey into Americanmusical tastes conducted by Komar and Melamid in1996 If you want to please the greatest number ofAmericans (72% 12%) consider Male and female solo voices R&B with a love theme Small ensemble of musicians Length of about 5 minutes Moderate pitch, tempo and volume http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/faculty/yudkin/25 February, 2013Copyright Gilb11 12. Most Unwanted AttributesTo appeal to only about 200 AmericansExtreme lengthWide range of dynamics, tempo and pitch in abrupt successionAn operatic soprano singing atonallyA cowboy song with political slogansA childrens choir singing holiday songsLarge orchestra featuring harp, accordion and bagpipeshttp://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/faculty/yudkin/There are samples of two songs written by David Soldier with lyrics by Nina Mankin to these wanted and unwanted guidelines about 19 minutes into Yudkins lecture25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb12 13. Stakeholders and ContextYudkin stresses the importance of the listenerTastes change Over historical time Bach was thought less of in his day than some other musicians we have forgotten People used to have more time - concerts could last four hours Less technology limited access and not the ability to listen to background music so easily Over personal time (during ones lifetime and itsinfluenced by experience)http://www.bu.edu/cfa/music/faculty/yudkin/25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb13 14. Some potentially quantifiableQuality dimensions of Music Brainstormed by Steve F. and Examples in Planguage Rachel D. At lunch Music.Moving: In tune Applause Type: primary music quality attribute Moving Encores Ambition Level: the majority of listeners Repeat Gigs feel moved to tears or strong physicalemotional reactions. Busking Hat Collection MRI Brain Scan Scale: the % of defined [Listeners] hearing Downloads defined [Music] under defined Utube Reviews [Environments] who reports a defined Royalties [Emotion] at a defined [Strength] (many more!!) Goal [1st UK Release, Music = Hip Hop,Environment = Itunes, Emotion = {Tears,25 February, 2013 Sadness}, Gilb Copyright Strength = Powerful] 50% 20% ? 14 15. Conformance to music standards In tune Standard tempo Fit to genre25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 15 16. Worrying about the Process- the Qualities of the PerformanceThe musicians involvedThe conductorThe instrumentsThe version of the musicThe locations acousticsThe accuracy of the recordingThe accuracy of the playback25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 16 17. The Costs and Budgets- What will people pay?What price to set up a performance?What will you pay for a ticket to attend?How far will you travel?How much do you spend on your hi-fi?25 February, 2013Copyright Gilb17 18. Qualities of the MusicThe musicians involvedThe conductorThe instrumentsThe version of the musicThe locations acousticsThe accuracy of the recordingThe accuracy of the playback25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 18 19. My friend Uyen The Conductor25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 19 20. The Music Conductors QuantifiableMusic Objectives: Uyens Goals25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb20 21. Uyens Concert Sunday25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 21 22. Uyen taking Applause at Concert25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb22 23. What is the problem,in quantifying music? Next!25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 23 24. So who was the man who challenged me to quantify music? Are you happy yet?25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 24 25. Thanks To neil.hankey@igence.comFor immediately finding me some of theseexamples, as our class ended! To Steve F. and Rachel D.For brainstorming some ideas over lunch25 February, 2013Copyright Gilb 25 26. End25 February, 2013 Copyright Gilb 26