Department
Mathematics and Statistics
Major
Applied Mathematics
Research Advisor
Samson, David
Advisor's Department
Arts, Languages, and Philosophy
Funding Source
OURE
Abstract
Is there an inherent bias towards male artists in the music industry? Evidence has been shown in previous studies, the most recent being from 2017, that there may be bias towards male artists appearing in Billboard Magazine s Hot 100 list. This study not only updates previous data to include 2017 through 2023, but also looks at the top 40 charts on a week-by-week bias as opposed to the year-end charts that other studies used for their data. We coded each song so as to indicate the gender of the artist(s) as well as whether or not the artists appeared as a soloist or as part of a group/band. When analyzing each individual song, we examined how often it appeared in the top 40 and how high it peaked. Looking at the data, we have realized that the claim of bias towards male artists may not be as cut and dry as other studies have suggested. In certain eras, many male artists who frequently top the charts are those marketed to the demographic of young female listeners. The data supports an argument that while male artists may dominate the Billboard charts, it is in fact female audiences that drive that domination.
Biography
Brileigh Cates is an Applied Mathematics junior studying statistic. She is Drum Major of the Miner Marching Band and Recording Secretary of the honorary band sorority on campus, Tau Beta Sigma. She plans on graduating and entering the S& T Statistics Doctorial Program by August of 2025. She plans on pursuing a degree in pharmaceutical statistics after graduation.
Research Category
Arts and Humanities
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Arts and Humanities Poster Session - First Place
Location
Innovation Forum - 1st Floor Innovation Lab
Presentation Date
10 April 2024, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Included in
Applied Mathematics Commons, Arts and Humanities Commons, Mathematics Commons, Statistics and Probability Commons
Gender and the Billboard Top 40 Charts between 1958 and 2023
Innovation Forum - 1st Floor Innovation Lab
Is there an inherent bias towards male artists in the music industry? Evidence has been shown in previous studies, the most recent being from 2017, that there may be bias towards male artists appearing in Billboard Magazine s Hot 100 list. This study not only updates previous data to include 2017 through 2023, but also looks at the top 40 charts on a week-by-week bias as opposed to the year-end charts that other studies used for their data. We coded each song so as to indicate the gender of the artist(s) as well as whether or not the artists appeared as a soloist or as part of a group/band. When analyzing each individual song, we examined how often it appeared in the top 40 and how high it peaked. Looking at the data, we have realized that the claim of bias towards male artists may not be as cut and dry as other studies have suggested. In certain eras, many male artists who frequently top the charts are those marketed to the demographic of young female listeners. The data supports an argument that while male artists may dominate the Billboard charts, it is in fact female audiences that drive that domination.
