An estimated 32 million Americans live within the path of totality that stretched from Texas to Maine during the solar eclipse earlier this month on Monday, April 8, 2024. And as Americans reached for their specialized sunglasses and Moon Pies to enjoy the celestial attraction they were also preparing playlists and turning to specific songs to soundtrack the occasion.
To commemorate the shared experience of millions who celebrated the eclipse in the U.S., certain songs rise up the rankings to mark the experience. Four examples of these are Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Eclipse,” the final song from Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album. Each of these songs saw steep increases during the week of the eclipse.
Interestingly, there is also a correlation between being in the path of totality and listenership. Using Luminate DMA-level consumption data to analyze the market share of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” a clear relationship exists where the darker shades indicating higher listenership were along the path of totality.
A shared experience is evident as music listeners soundtrack special moments en masse. Whether it’s a holiday like Halloween or a unique event like this month’s solar eclipse, an opportunity exists to maximize these moments and help listeners find the right song at the right time.
