Infallible. For music. For ads. For anything you want to sell.
It came back to me while watching a bad commercial for an air fryer. I saw 3-4 commercials in a row. And the one for the size S oven clearly stood out from the others. It was cringing hard, as my son would say.
At that moment, I thought that even that commercial should have passed the “playlist” test. It’s the same test I use when a music producer sends me a track and asks me: “How is it? Is it ready for the market?”
The test is this:
- Insert the track into a mini-playlist of 5 similar tracks by genre and positioning.
- Listen to the playlist in shuffle mode, several times.
- Have someone who doesn’t know your track take the same test.
If your piece stands out in the flow, there is still work to be done.
Not because it is “bad.” But because it is not yet competitive for that market.
It is not an artistic judgment. It is a technical judgment.
And it works e-v-e-r-y-t-i-m-e.
#MusicTakeAway
Before launching a music track (but also an ad, a creative piece, or content), don’t evaluate it alone. Put it alongside the best in its context.
If it sounds off, the problem isn’t the audience. It’s the level.
(And yes, it probably would have worked for that air fryer too.)
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I am Andrea Corelli, Professional and Advisor to the Music Industry.
From Monday to Friday, I share strategies, backstage insights, or the stories behind a song on LinkedIn. On the weekend, I enjoy the flow.
If you need help with your artist, label, music startup or project, write to me.