The discovery of new music is one of the greatest treasures of being a music fan. Whether it’s an old friend or new acquaintance, there is something special about a song that resonates with us and moves us in ways we didn’t know possible. It’s even more magical when you find that hidden gem again after some time apart. However, for ardent fans who have access to streaming services like Apple Music, Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, and others, it can be difficult to find exactly what you want to hear. As such, while we love these services for their endless supply of music from all genres, we also need to know what those little stars on songs mean so as not to overlook them. Here are a few things you should know about the stars on Apple Music:
What Does a Star Mean on Apple Music?
A star rating is used to distinguish the best songs in an album or playlist. The star rating is not a measure of popularity. Popularity is determined by how many people listen to the song or album. A star rating indicates which songs are the best and most interesting in each album or playlist.
Which Songs Have A Star And Why?
1. Country Music
Country music is an American country music subgenre, which is a blend of Southern country music and pop styles. The genre emerged in the United States during the early-to-mid 20th century. (Wikipedia)
2. Rock Music
Rock music is a genre characterized by a reliance on electric guitars, loud vocals, and a strong back beat. It was initially popularized in the 1950s and 1960s; however, it has continued to evolve over time to include many different styles of rock music. (Wikipedia)
3. Hip Hop/Rap Music
Hip hop is a musical genre that originated in New York City in the early 1970s from elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, and jazz by African Americans living in the boroughs of New York City. (Wikipedia)
4. Pop/Top 40 Music
Pop/Top 40 music is a genre of popular music that originated in the United States and is primarily driven by the combination of pop music, rock music, and R&B. (Wikipedia)
5. Alternative Music
Alternative music is a genre of rock that was developed during the 1970s in the United States, predominantly by new wave bands such as The Velvet Underground and The Stooges, who are considered to be one of the first alternative bands. (Wikipedia)
6. Electronic Dance Music/EDM/Electronic Dance Songs/Electronic Dance Anthems
Electronic dance music is a genre of electronic music that developed during the early 1980s in the United States and Europe, particularly the United Kingdom. (Wikipedia)
7. Jazz Music
Jazz is a music genre characterized by improvisation and the use of improvisational techniques, which are common in African-American music. (Wikipedia)
8. Classical Music
Classical music is music from the Middle Ages and later periods. It is generally written in a form of musical notation called sheet music. (Wikipedia)
9. Metal Music
Metal music is a genre of rock that originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely influenced by hard rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. (Wikipedia)
10. Inspirational Music
Inspirational music is a genre of music that uplifts or inspires. It can be inspirational in the positive sense of the word, as it can inspire a person to do something new and better in their life. It is often used by people who need an emotional boost. (Wikipedia)
New Releases With Stars On Apple Music
- A star is added to a new release when its tracks are added to the main “New Releases” playlist.
The first song or album that is added to the “New Releases” playlist is given a rating of 1 Star.
- A star is added to each new release that is added to the “New Releases” playlist within 30 days of its original release date.
The first song or album that is added to the “New Releases” playlist after 30 days of its original release date is given a rating of 2 Stars.
- A star is added to each new release in the “New Releases” playlist if it has been played at least 10 times within 30 days of its original release date.
The first song or album that has been played at least 10 times within 30 days of its original release date will be given a rating of 3 Stars.
- A star will be removed from each new release in the “New Releases” playlist if it has not been played at least 10 times within 30 days of its original release date, and no other songs have been played more than 5 times in that time period.
If no songs have been played more than 5 times in that time period, then all songs will be rated 4 Stars and there will be no other stars on this list for this particular album or playlist, aside from any available on other albums or playlists with lower ratings (see below).
- A star can only be removed once it has been played at least 10 times within 30 days of its original release date.
This is to prevent the rating of a new release from being too low due to it not being played enough.
- If a song or album is rated 1 Star, 2 Stars, or 3 Stars, then the total number of stars will be rounded down to the next lowest star rating (i.e., 4 stars would be rounded down to 3 stars).
Conclusion
The discovery of new music is one of the greatest treasures of being a music fan. Whether it’s an old friend or new acquaintance, there is something special about a song that resonates with us and moves us in ways we didn’t know possible. It’s even more magical when you find that hidden gem again after some time apart. With Apple Music, you can rate each song from 0 to 5 stars. While you may think that the number of stars you rate a song is arbitrary, there is actually a specific meaning behind each star rating. This is also true for the meaning behind the absence of a star rating.
There is more to Apple Music than just the ratings, but we will save that for next time.