storytelling with data podcast storytelling with data podcast: #94 the uncharted territory of data and music with Chris Dalla Riva
Dec 4, 2025
Chris Dalla Riva, a musician and data analyst, delves into the fascinating world where music meets analytics. He shares his ambitious project of listening to every Billboard No. 1 hit, revealing insights about song structure influenced by technology. Discussing misconceptions about streaming payouts and song authenticity, he highlights the impact of genre labels shaped by industry biases. Chris also addresses the ethical implications of AI in music, sparking a thought-provoking conversation on creativity and representation in the digital age.
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From Daily Listening To A Book
- Chris Dalla Riva listened to every Billboard Hot 100 number-one song and tracked many attributes in a spreadsheet over years.
- That hobby evolved into a dataset and eventually the book Uncharted Territory.
Build And Clean Your Own Data
- Build your own dataset when existing data doesn't answer your question to gain deeper understanding.
- Expect tedious cleaning but gain confidence and better analysis results.
Technology Shapes Musical Trends
- Musical trends often follow technological change rather than pure artistic choice.
- Song length shifts tied to formats (45s, LPs, streaming) show tech driving music form.
