If you're a user of Apple's streaming app, you've probably noticed a little star next to a song in Apple Music while browsing the platform, which may seem like an insignificant detail, but it has a specific meaning and can influence your user experience on the app.
Now that we've given you our virtual scoop, let's get down to business: explaining in depth what the star next to a song in Apple Music means, how it's assigned, and how it can affect the way you discover and enjoy music.
The star next to a song on Apple Music: What does it mean?
On Apple Music, a star next to a song indicates that the song is popular within the streaming service's catalog, as Apple indicates in its Support forum.
That is, it is a way to highlight the songs that are the most listened to or preferred by users and unlike other platforms, where songs can have a visible number of "likes" or "votes", Apple Music uses the star as a more subtle way to recommend popular songs.
Yes, The star is not necessarily a sign that the song is new or recently released.; rather, it's an indication that that particular song is receiving more streams than other songs on the same album, playlist, or by the same artist. That is, we can easily find that Bohemian Rhapsody has a star, even though it came out quite a while ago.
How is a star assigned to a song?
Apple Music uses a combination of algorithms and playback data to determine which songs get a star, and while Apple hasn't officially revealed the exact details of its algorithm, it's known that assigning a star is based on several key factors:
Number of reproductions
This is the most obvious factor, as it accounts for how many times a song has been played compared to other songs on the same album or playlist.
This leads us directly to an initial conclusion: songs that have a high number of plays in a short period of time are more likely to receive a star, and therefore, the algorithm could favor new songs or even those that go more viral, as happened to Kate Bush thanks to Stranger Things with “Running Up That Hill”, which re-released the song almost 35 years after its release.
Interaction of users
In addition to the reproductions, Apple Music may also consider other forms of user interaction, such as the song’s inclusion in personal playlists, the number of times it has been downloaded, and whether users mark it as a favorite. Ultimately, knowing that the algorithm picks up on “popular sentiment,” it makes sense that it would take this into account.
Performance in different regions
Although Apple Music is a global platform, a song's performance may vary by region.
A popular song in the United States may not be as popular in Europe, and vice versa, so the star may reflect the popularity of the song in a specific market and serve as a measure of the success of a topic at a meeting.
What does the star next to a song on Apple Music mean for listeners?
For Apple Music users, the star feature is somewhat relative, as it serves as a helpful guide when exploring new albums or playlists, but it does have some influence on how the app works.
Discovery of popular music
The star helps listeners to Quickly identify the most popular songs in an album or playlist, making it easy to find music others are already enjoying.
So if you don't have a very strong taste or you like to open yourself up to new musical experiences, the star can help you discover new songs and broaden your musical horizons.
Additionally, songs with stars can also indicate which ones are trending or gaining popularity quickly, which can be interesting for listeners who want to keep up with the latest music trends.
Time saving
For those who don't have time to listen to a full album, The star can help select the top songs and listen to them first, something very useful when exploring albums by new or unknown artists.
Also It helps you “get to the point” if what you are looking for is to focus on the highlights of an artist:We all know that “We Will Rock You” is a great song by Queen… but does anyone remember the song “39” from that album? Well that...
How does it affect artists and content creators?
And here we are going to see the other side of the coin, because when a star appears next to a song on Apple Music, it also influences other people: the artists and content creators on Apple Music.
Increased visibility
For artists, Having a song with a star on Apple Music can mean an increase in visibility, as popular songs are more likely to be discovered by new listeners, which can translate into more streams, followers, and fans… and more money in the long run.
More attention on playlists
Starred songs may be more likely to be added to editorial playlists or featured by Apple Music, can be a significant boost for an artist, especially those who are just starting out. and seek to expand their listener base.
Business success indicator
And this is a direct conclusion from the star system, but something totally valid: for artists and their teams, the star can serve as a additional indicator of a song's success.
If a song receives a star shortly after its release, it may be a sign that the promotion strategy is working and that the song is resonating with listeners.
Are there any limitations to Apple Music's star system?
Now that you know what the star system is, it's time to do something you know we do on this website... be critical. Although the star is a useful tool, it is not perfect and has some limitations:
Subjectivity of popularity
The popularity of A song is not always a reflection of its musical quality And this is something that we all understand. I doubt very much that without this concept of 21st century virality, in other times we would have had the infamous/rogue “Eat my donut” resonating on radio stations (which as fun as it is… the musical quality is not)
Some songs may get a star simply because they are part of a highly anticipated album or by a popular artist, regardless of their artistic merit, or because they are simply the result of a viral hit on social media or a television show.
Constant change
And derived from that virality that we mentioned before, it is noteworthy that songs lose or gain stars as popularity and the number of plays changes.
This has a clear implication on the system: the presence of a star is not permanent and can change over time, “hiding” good topics simply because people have forgotten about them.
Algorithmic bias
By relying on algorithms, the assignment of stars may favor songs that are already getting a lot of plays, creating a snowball effect that makes it harder for lesser-known songs or independent artists to gain visibility.
And in the end, like all automation, if you know how to get to the algorithm... You will surely reach the top of the stars next to a song in Apple Music.