Paper Contents
Abstract
The study titled Social Media Algorithms of Fame Have Limited the Music Creativity of Artists explores how algorithm-driven platforms, particularly TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, have redefined the creative process in contemporary music production. While social media has democratized visibility and provided unprecedented opportunities for independent musicians, it has simultaneously imposed structural and creative constraints. The constant pursuit of virality has given rise to a standardized formula for hit songsshort, catchy, and easily consumable within 15 seconds. This algorithmic bias toward brief, attention-grabbing content has reshaped artistic motivation and musical composition, prioritizing popularity metrics over artistic integrity and originality. The first section examines how the 15-second reel culture shapes consumer behavior and reorients artists strategies. Since audiences often engage only with snippets, musicians increasingly focus on making their tracks hook-heavy, ensuring immediate impact within seconds rather than developing a coherent three-minute narrative. Consequently, marketing approaches and creative processes have evolvedchoruses are positioned earlier, intros are shortened, and lyrical repetition is used to optimize retention and shareability. The studys musical structure analysis reveals recurring patterns among viral songs, demonstrating notable similarities in tempo, chord progression, lyrical themes, and production style. These structural convergences illustrate how algorithmic incentives push artists toward homogenization, discouraging experimentation with unconventional melodies or complex storytelling. The research further highlights a significant decline in narrative depth, where lyrical originality and emotional diversity are sacrificed in favor of algorithm-friendly simplicity. As a result, the music landscape is dominated by songs that sound and feel increasingly alike, reinforcing the notion that good music is that which aligns with algorithmic visibility and mass appeal rather than artistic expression. Ultimately, the paper argues that while social media algorithms have amplified exposure opportunities, they have also fostered a creative paradox: artists gain fame at the expense of authenticity. The culture of instant gratification, driven by algorithmic virality, has transformed creativity into conformity. The research concludes by calling for a reevaluation of digital metrics as measures of musical quality and urges artists and platforms alike to reclaim creativity beyond algorithmic limitations.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Anya Gupta. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
