Earlier this week, the Polyphonic HMI company announced that their new software program, Hit Song Science, may have the ability to pick out which songs might be chart-toppers before they are even released to the record-buying public. The program identifies certain characteristics, such as melody, harmony, tempo, and pitch, that frequently result in songs that become immensely popular. Apparently, these shared traits are not always obvious, as the rock group U2 and the works of Beethoven shared similar values, as did the music of the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Polyphonic HMI's chief executive, Mike McCready, noted that "There are a limited number of mathematical formulas for hit songs." Other commentators and music journalists have already commented that much of contemporary popular music does in fact sound much the same, due to the restrictive playlists of many radio stations, with some noting that the subtle practice of "payola" seems to be alive and well.

The first link leads to a news article on this new program from the Music Industry News Network. The second link will take users to an insightful commentary on these recent developments by ZDNet UK columnist, Rupert Goodwins. The third link leads to the homepage of Polyphonic HMI, which contains information about their work, their technology, and their partners. Persons interested in the current state of popular music's bestsellers will want to look at the fourth link, which leads to the Billboard's current top 200 best-selling album chart. The fifth link leads to a number of music charts from around the world, including some historic best-selling charts from the United Kingdom. The final site contains the top 100 selling albums of all time, as compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America, and includes a number of familiar records, such as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Led Zeppelin IV."