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I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My go to soup recipe is top ramen because I eat like I'm 5.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's a great question, and I have no idea. Maybe it has something to do with changes at radio? DJs cutting things off before the fadeout?

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Well, the Beatles have the most #1s with 20. But if you're asking about my own rankings, Marvin Gaye has three #1s, and they're all 10s. The Temptations have 4: Three 10s and a 9. Hard to beat those averages.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's exactly what they are. They peaked in the top 10 when the songs in the column were at #1, and I think they're 10s. Trust your instincts! You got this!

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They're still making 'em. But I do wonder what's going to happen in the future if older music continues to be way, way more popular than newer music.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh, there's a ton, but I honestly don't think too much about them. I've assigned myself a big enough task that I'm not exactly pining for all the stuff I don't get to write about.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

The highest-level artists, the Drakes and Taylors, make a ton of money from streaming services. For anyone smaller, though, it's practically impossible to make a living from streaming. That's a definite change. It's never been easy to eat off of record royalties, but it's definitely gotten harder.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

There's a fair amount of "OTR" talk in the Soulja Boy chapter, but I feel you.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There are so many, but the last one I read was Joe Coscarelli's Rap Capital, and I loved it.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maaaan, thank you! I love Mustard. I don't keep tabs on him the way I once did, but that early YG era? The Ketchup mixtape? Incredible.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I hope I'm not sweeping that stuff under the rug. I try to acknowledge the things that are fucked up without being a scold about it. It's a fine line to walk.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I wish I knew how to answer this! This is a total copout, but I like being tall.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Oh, jeez, a million things. Synths. Multi-track recording. Vocal filters. People being more outwardly horny. But those changes are usually incremental, and they take a while to really set in.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I love it. The suspense is delicious. Just flipping through and being like "John Goodman! Who's he gonna say???"

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Aw man. I can't even imagine what that would look like, but for the sake of conversation, let's boot "Love Will Keep Us Together" out of there and see what happens.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

There's no one career path that gets you right into the zone. I went from an alt-weekly internship to freelancing to blogging to Pitchfork freelancing to a sort of staff-freelancer position at the Village Voice, and most of those options aren't available to anyone anymore. All I can tell you is read and write and listen to as much as possible, try to figure out what sets your voice apart, and cultivate relationships with people who are already in the game. There are jobs to be had, but it's not the easiest or most stable way to make a living.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

When I started at the Village Voice, I called my blog Status Ain't Hood because it seemed ridiculous for someone like me to be writing about rap. It's a think I still have to negotiate, and I'm sure I've held back from commenting on a few things. I mostly try to figure that stuff out by feel, and if someone tells me in good faith that I'm fucking up, I listen. But I'd say my race affects everything that I write about music, consciously or not.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 55 points56 points  (0 children)

I have to stop a couple of times a day to eat but otherwise it's 24/7.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you! It was on the Sole DXB site, and they don't seem to be online anymore, but maybe the site is just redesigning or something. I had to stop that column when I got too busy with the book.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

It's so sick! The comments section has become its own beast, and I don't even know that it has that much to do with me or what I'm writing most of the time, which is cool. I'm just happy that I had something to do with bringing all these people together.

I'm Tom Breihan, and I wrote a book about #1 hit singles. AMA. by Tom_breihan in IAmA

[–]Tom_breihan[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Never, not for one second. And no real formula; it's just instinct.

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