This book digs into the question of why we care so much about music charts and lists. What makes us so concerned with who currently has the number one song, or whose album is considered the greatest ever? Countdown Culture offers an in-depth examination of the public’s interest and fascination with the popular music charts and the creation of all-time music lists. From the beginnings of the Billboard charts to the glory days of American Top 40 to modern-day struggles over who belongs on the shortlist of music legends, this book uses a variety of methods to discuss the evolution of the music countdown through the decades. It also discusses how the music media has manipulated our social memory of popular music, and the role it plays in determining the success or status of particular artists. Countdown Culture is intended for scholars of popular culture and media studies, and fans of music in general. This book explains why and how charts, lists, and countdowns are created, and what people are doing with that knowledge to push for better representation in the music industry.

David Crider is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the State University of New York at Oswego. He has published articles in such noteworthy journals as Popular Music and Society, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, and Journal of Radio & Audio Media. His first book, Performing Personality: On-Air Identities in a Changing Media Landscape was published by Lexington Books in 2016. As Kurt Cobain would say, “Most people don’t own it.” A veteran of nearly a decade in radio as a producer, on-air personality, and program/music director, he is currently the faculty advisor for Oswego’s student-run radio station, WNYO-FM. He lives in central New York with his wife Jenna and their three cats: Sonic, Salem, and Freddie.