The simple answer is that albums typically contain 10-14 songs, but there’s much more to the story than just the number of tracks. Let’s dive into how artists decide what makes it onto their collection of songs and what goes into creating a cohesive body of work.
The Standard Album Length
Most commercial full-length albums today contain between 10-14 songs, with the average being around a 12 track format. This standard has remained fairly consistent in the streaming era, though it evolved from earlier constraints of vinyl records and other physical album formats.
A typical full album usually runs for at least 30 minutes, though this can vary significantly across genres in the music industry.
Behind the Scenes: The Selection Process
What many listeners don’t realize is that the number of songs that make it onto an album release represents just a fraction of what artists create during the writing and recording process.
The Coldplay Approach
Chris Martin of Coldplay is known for his prolific writing process. For a typical Coldplay album, Martin and the band will write and record approximately 40 songs, then carefully select the best 10-12 tracks for the final original release.
During the making of their album “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends,” producer Brian Eno actually implemented a voting system where band members would rate each demo to help determine which songs would make the final cut.
Other Artist Examples
This approach isn’t unique to Coldplay:
- Taylor Swift reportedly wrote over 200 songs for her album “1989” before narrowing it down to 13 tracks
- Ed Sheeran composed around 120 songs for his album “Divide” before selecting the final 16
- Bruce Springsteen recorded around 70 songs for “Born in the USA” before choosing the final 12
Factors That Influence Album Length
Several considerations play a role in determining an album’s final track count:
- Artistic cohesion – Does each song contribute to the overall narrative?
- Pacing and flow – How do the tracks work together as a complete listening experience?
- Commercial considerations – Will listeners stay engaged for the entire duration?
- Format limitations – While less relevant today, physical formats historically limited length
- Fan base expectations – What have listeners come to expect from the artist?
EPs and Singles: Shorter Alternatives
EPs and singles occupy the middle ground between individual tracks and full albums.
How Many Songs Are On An EP (Extended Play)?
EPs typically contain:
- Between 3-6 songs
- Most commonly 4 tracks
- Total runtime of 15-30 minutes
Many new artists start by releasing singles and an EP before committing to a full album, allowing them to build a fan base while refining their sound.
The Modern Release Strategy
In today’s streaming-dominated landscape with platforms like Apple Music, artists have more flexibility than ever. Some opt for shorter albums to maintain listener attention, while others release deluxe editions with additional tracks to maximize streaming numbers.
The music industry has seen significant shifts in how artists approach the album release process, with many choosing a “drip-feed” approach, releasing singles consistently throughout the year rather than saving everything for one big launch.
How Album Formats Influence Track Numbers
Historically, different physical album formats played a major role in determining how many songs would appear on an album:
- Vinyl records typically held 5-6 songs per side (10-12 total)
- CDs could hold up to 80 minutes of music (allowing for longer albums)
- Digital platforms like Apple Music have no technical limitations, opening up new possibilities
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