Inside the Playbook: Mike Caren on What Makes a Song Feel Like a Hit

Mike Caren breaks down what actually makes a song feel like a hit.This clip explores the role of A&R, taste, replay value, emotional connection, melody, lyrics, and creative judgment in today’s music business. Mike also talks about trusting your opinion, learning from missed calls, redefining what a hit means in the streaming era, and why great executives grow by focusing on their strengths instead of rushing titles.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pjListen to the full episode here -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UnV1d2ltTCO1rfjqhTKc4?si=seltDGQ-RvWE9fwshY-f3wWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybookTimestamps:00:00 Have an Opinion00:58 What Makes a Hit03:18 Replay Test for Songs05:37 Gut Instinct Explained07:08 Defining Hits Today08:04 Culture vs Chart Peaks09:42 Career Moves for Execs10:58 Turning Down Promotions11:36 Choosing Your Strengths13:00 Closing Thoughts on Growth