“Hot 100” video art piece showcases the top 100 songs of the week on billboard.com for the week of October 10th, 2012. This raises questions about the definition of music and noise, and how the combination of sounds constitutes “hot” music. Is there an authoritative definition of what makes a sound or song popular, or is it purely subjective? Who determines what makes a song “hot,” and how can we accurately determine this without polling everyone? Additionally, we must question whether the songs in the top 100 are truly the most popular or if record companies have paid for their position. Did they pay for radio stations to play these songs and inflate their popularity? Are these songs considered “hot” simply because the majority of people believe them to be so? Is music defined by a complex formula, or is it subjective and dependent on individual interpretation? Ultimately, can music be considered music as soon as someone claims it to be so?

 

Hot 100 installed at the William & Nancy Oliver Gallery

Here is the installation of Hot 100 at the William & Nancy Oliver Gallery. This work is exhibited with four projectors on a flat wall.