In a revealing analysis presented in a thesis, Yuito Hayasaka, a sociology major at Nara University, explored the transformation of hit songs over the past 50 years, noting a significant trend: songs have become shorter, with choruses appearing earlier in the track. This conclusion was drawn from a quantitative study examining approximately 500 hit songs from 1975 to 2024, which highlights how the shift in music consumption, particularly through streaming services, has influenced song structure. Hayasaka's research, conducted over a week, involved measuring the total playback time, the length of intros, and the timing of when the chorus starts, with the chorus defined as the part of the song featuring high rhythmic and melodic repetition.

The analysis found that the average length of songs initially increased from 228.6 seconds in the late 1970s to 293.7 seconds in the late 1990s. However, the trend reversed in the late 2010s, with the average length dropping to 252.1 seconds, and then to 242.2 seconds in the early 2020s. This decrease coincides with the rise of digital music consumption, where shorter and more engaging track formats appeal to listeners who may prefer quick access to catchy choruses rather than lengthy intros. Such findings could have substantial implications for music producers and artists, suggesting a need to adapt to these evolving listener preferences in the context of music streaming's growing influence.