Hit Makers

The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction

By: Derek Thompson

Narrated by: Derek Thompson

From the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Abundance comes a groundbreaking and entertaining investigation into what makes a hit a hit–from films and music to art and design.

“Enthralling—full of 'aha' moments about why some ideas soar and others never get off the ground. This book picks up where The Tipping Point left off." —Adam Grant

Nothing “goes viral.” If you think a popular movie, song, or app came out of nowhere to become a word-of-mouth success in today’s crowded media environment, you’re missing the real story. Each blockbuster has a secret history—of power, influence, dark broadcasters, and passionate cults that turn some new products into cultural phenomena. Even the most brilliant ideas wither in obscurity if they fail to connect with the right network, and the consumers that matter most aren't the early adopters, but rather their friends, followers, and imitators—the audience of your audience.

In his groundbreaking investigation, Atlantic senior editor Derek Thompson uncovers the hidden psychology of why we like what we like and reveals the economics of cultural markets that invisibly shape our lives. Shattering the sentimental myths of hit-making that dominate pop culture and business, Thompson shows quality is insufficient for success, nobody has "good taste," and some of the most popular products in history were one bad break away from utter failure. It may be a new world, but there are some enduring truths to what audiences and consumers want. People love a familiar surprise: a product that is bold, yet sneakily recognizable.

Every business, every artist, every person looking to promote themselves and their work wants to know what makes some works so successful while others disappear. Hit Makers is a magical mystery tour through the last century of pop culture blockbusters and the most valuable currency of the twenty-first century—people’s attention.

From the dawn of impressionist art to the future of Facebook, from small Etsy designers to the origin of Star Wars, Derek Thompson leaves no pet rock unturned to tell the fascinating story of how culture happens and why things become popular.

In Hit Makers, Derek Thompson investigates:
* What Taylor Swift, the printing press, and the laugh track have in common
* The secret link between ESPN's sticky programming and the The Weeknd's catchy choruses
* How advertising critics predicted Donald Trump
* The 5th grader who accidentally launched "Rock Around the Clock," the biggest hit in rock and roll history
* How Barack Obama and his speechwriters think of themselves as songwriters
* How Disney conquered the world—but the future of hits belongs to savvy amateurs and individuals
* The French collector who accidentally created the Impressionist canon
* Quantitative evidence that the biggest music hits aren’t always the best
* Why almost all Hollywood blockbusters are sequels, reboots, and adaptations
* Why one year--1991--is responsible for the way pop music sounds today
* Why another year --1932--created the business model of film
* How data scientists proved that “going viral” is a myth
* How 19th century immigration patterns explain the most heard song in the Western Hemisphere

Great resource for creatives striving for success!

As an educator, this book has been a great resource for motivating students to understand their audience and the history of 'hits'! I reference this book almost every day at the college where I teach— it's an important concept for creators who want to make great art AND want to connect with their niche (and, want to make money). Context (and familiarity) are essential in order to connect with others! Love this book!

A hit!

I've never taken as many notes listening to a book as I did durning this one!

great book for business owners

easy to read, compelling if you are interested in the subject, and a perspective altering book for someone who doesn't care about the topic

Super interesting!

If you’re into Malcolm Gladwell you’ll enjoy this. Well researched and written book about how things go viral.

Wanted to score higher

The beginning of this book was brilliant. I didn’t want to stop listening. The ending was also quite good. However, in the middle the author chooses to add largely irrelevant material and also decides to get on a soapbox. Not necessarily a bad one, but still not how I wished to spend my time. I would have liked to rate this 3.5. Half stars are not allowed, so I opted to round up rather than down. Much of the info is common sense, but it is still really good info and the nuggets of gold outweigh the negatives.