What Is The Hit Predictor (And Who Is It For?)
In every era of music, there’s one big question: “Which of these songs is really a hit?”
The Hit Predictor was built to answer that question in a way that respects both the art and the data. It’s a platform where labels, artists, managers, radio and internet stations can test new music with real listeners before committing big budgets and campaigns.
This post breaks down what The Hit Predictor is, how it works, and who it’s designed to serve.
What is The Hit Predictor?
The Hit Predictor is a music research platform that connects:
- Clients – labels, artists, managers, PR/agency, radio groups, streamers
- Predictors – music fans, radio people, and internet radio programmers
Clients upload songs and create projects. Predictors listen, rate what they hear, and provide feedback. The platform compiles those results into clean, readable reports that shine a light on which songs are truly connecting.
Under the hood, The Hit Predictor combines decades of radio and programming experience with modern online tools. It’s built by veteran broadcaster and programmer Lee Michaels, with an eye toward the realities of promotion, rotation, and marketing in 2025 and beyond.
Why does this matter in a streaming world?
On paper, there’s more data than ever: streams, skips, saves, completion rates, playlist adds. But raw numbers don’t always tell you why a song is working or whether a track is a real priority or just getting temporary curiosity clicks.
The Hit Predictor focuses on three big needs:
- Clarity before you spend
- Is this the right focus track?
- Which song out of these three actually moves people?
- Insight beyond social buzz
- Are people really connecting, or is it just noise and novelty?
- Support for internal conversations
- Labels, artists and radio teams need something more solid than “I have a feeling.”
- Clean listener feedback gives everyone a common starting point.
Who is The Hit Predictor for?
The platform serves several key groups, each in a different way.
1. Record labels & distributors
Labels use The Hit Predictor to:
- Test singles, EPs and albums before full-scale campaigns
- Compare multiple tracks from the same artist or project
- Support pitch decks, internal greenlights, and marketing meetings
You can see which songs:
- Score consistently high across predictors
- Show strong momentum with specific audiences (for example, music fans vs. radio people)
- Might need more development or rethinking before they go to market
2. Artists & managers
For independent artists and management teams, The Hit Predictor provides:
- An early read on potential singles
- Feedback that doesn’t just come from friends, family or fans who already love you
- Support when you’re talking to label partners, radio, or media
Instead of guessing which song to push, you can test multiple tracks and look at how they’re actually received.
3. Radio programmers & internet stations
Radio and internet stations live in a world of tight rotations, limited slots, and big decisions. The Hit Predictor helps them:
- See how their type of listeners react to new music
- Support adds, swaps and specialty features with real feedback
- Understand which songs feel like “must adds” vs. “nice to have”
You’re not replacing your instincts—you’re backing them up with an extra lens on listener reaction.
4. PR, promotions and marketing teams
PR and promo teams need proof points. The Hit Predictor can feed:
- Talking points for label and radio conversations
- Data for one-sheets and campaign recaps
- “Listener favorite” angles to build stories around
How it works in simple steps
Here’s the short version of the process:
- Clients create projects and upload songs
Each project can be a single, EP, album or campaign. Clients decide which tracks to include and how long they want the project to run. - Predictors rate the music
Music fans, radio people and internet radio log into their dashboards, listen to songs in their preferred genres, and rate them on a simple scale. In some cases, they can leave comments about what they like or don’t like. - The platform compiles the results
The Hit Predictor aggregates scores, vote counts and other indicators. Clients can see which songs stand out, which ones are polarizing, and where there may be hidden gems inside a project. - Clients use the insight to make decisions
With the results in hand, labels, artists, managers and radio can decide:- Which track is the true “focus”
- Where to allocate marketing and promo budgets
- Which songs deserve another look, remix or repositioning
What makes The Hit Predictor different?
A few things separate The Hit Predictor from generic surveys or raw streaming stats:
- Built by a programmer – not just a spreadsheet. The platform is designed by someone who has sat in the chair for ratings, research and real-world music decisions.
- Multiple audience types – you can look at feedback from music fans, radio people and internet radio separately or together.
- Simple, focused reporting – the goal is clear, fast reads, not more noise or dashboards you’ll never use.
Where it’s going next
The current version of The Hit Predictor is part of a larger roadmap. Over time, the platform will add:
- Deeper reporting options
- More segmentation and targeting
- Additional tools for labels, artists, radio, and digital platforms
It’s being built in phases, with a focus on staying stable, clear and respectful of the people using it.
How to get involved
If you’re reading this and thinking, “We need something like this,” there are a few ways to plug in:
- Become a client – Labels, artists, managers, PR and industry partners can request access here:
👉 Become a Client - Join the predictor panel – Music fans can sign up to help pick tomorrow’s hits:
👉 Join the Predictor Panel - Radio and internet stations – If you program or operate a station and want to participate, you can start here:
👉 Radio Join
👉 Internet Radio Join
The Hit Predictor is about giving everyone in the process—artists, labels, radio, internet stations and fans—a clearer voice in what becomes a hit. And this blog will be where we share what we’re learning along the way.