The End of an Era: Percentage of #1 Hit Songs with a Key Change

The End of an Era: Percentage of #1 Hit Songs with a Key Change
graph by Chris Dalla Riva/Caileigh Nerney; slow reveal by Jenna Laib

Type of Graph: double bar graph

Purpose

This slow reveal is designed to support analysis and discussion of both the data and the design choices. The questions in the slide deck invite learners to examine trends, estimate values, and discuss percentages. Students are encouraged to “tell the story” of the line graph, which may touch on steepness and other changes. There are connections to make to pop music and pop culture shifts. It may help to also show videos about key changes and modulations.

About This Graph

This visualization is not provided for reuse or redistribution. Readers and educators are encouraged to view the original visualization in its published context.

Original Visualization:
Dalla Riva, Chris. “5 Hot Takes: The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Led Zeppelin, Poptimism, and Morgan Wallen.”
Can’t Get Much Higher: September 4, 2025.
Accessed at: https://www.cantgetmuchhigher.com/p/the-beatles-taylor-swift-led-zeppelin 

Dalla Riva, Chris. Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves. Bloomsbury, 2025.
Graphic by Caileigh Nerney

Data Sources:
Statista Market Insights, accessed May 9, 2026
Accessed at: https://www.statista.com/outlook/amo/media/books/worldwide/

Video:
David Bennett, “The Truck Driver Gear Shift key change.” YouTube: Aug 31, 2024
Accessed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJf8MhLQz-8

In The Classroom

There are many different mathematical connections that can be made to this data and data visualization.

Potential Math Content: line graph, scale along the y-axis, estimate values, tell the story, percentages

Potential Content Connections: music, pop music, pop culture, billboard