A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM

Songs from 1980-1999 and from 2000-2010

Abella, Venesa Ame, Martin Roman Lorenzo Argarin, Michael Erick

2008-18798 2008-10449
Asuncion, Neil Patrick Raymond Chan, Arden Christopher
2008-20279 2007-19929

October 15, 2010

A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Contents

Table of Contents 1

List of Tables 2

List of Figures 3

Abbreviations and Acronyms 4

Executive Summary 5

1 Introduction 6

2 Problem Definition 8

3 Methodology 9

4 Data Summary 11

5 Statistical Analysis 14

6 Recommendations 16

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

List of Tables

2
A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

List of Figures

4.1 Song Distribution By Song Length, 1980-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

4.2 Song Distribution By Song Length, 2000-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.3 Song Distribution By Year of Release, 1980-1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.4 Song Distribution By Year of Release, 2000-2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Abbreviations and Acronyms

OPM Original Pinoy Music

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Executive Summary

This study compares the mean length of songs from 1980-1999 and 2000-2010, seeking if
there is a difference between them. A sample of 211 songs released from 2000-2010 were
gathered, as well as 95 songs from the years 1980-1999. The length of each song (in seconds)
for each samples was then taken, their respective means computed as well as their standard
deviations and variances. A two-tailed z-test was then used to prove whether or not there
is a significant difference between the mean lengths of the samples.
Using a 0.01 level of significance, it was found out that there is no significant difference
between the mean lengths of the songs in the past generation (1980-1999) and the recent
decade (2000-2010).

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Chapter 1

Introduction

The nature of the study is to collect Original Pilipino Music (popularly known as OPM)
from the past generation, starting from the year 1980 to 1999, up to the recent decade,
starting from the year 2000 to 2010.
The OPM referred to in the study consists of songs composed and/ or sung by Pilipino
artists in any Philippine language or dialect, including but not limited to Tagalog, Bisaya,
Kapampangan, and Cebuano. Songs with English lyrics were also taken into consideration
because this language is one of the dominant languages in the country, alongside Filipino,
as well as one of the official languages of the Philippines according to the Philippine Con-
stitution.
There are four key elements collected by the group namely, the song title, the name
of the artist and/or composer, the duration of the whole song and the year the song was
released.
The first two elements, song title and artist, were collected to properly and sufficiently
identify each song apart from the others. For example, included in the database are two
songs, both of which entitled, “Salamat”. To be able to tell one apart from the other, the
artist’s name can simply be referred to. Despite the possible differences in the song duration
or the year of the song’s release, several similarly titled songs can be mistaken to be the
same song with inconsistent or erroneous data. For obvious reasons, the song title and the
artist are important data to the study.
Second, the duration of each song, expressed in terms of minutes and seconds, is one to
be the most important variables of the study. Since different versions of a song may cause
variations to the song’s length, we chose to consider only the first known studio recording.
Lastly, the year of the song’s release will determine the time frame to which it will be

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categorized in, either the generation ranging from the 80’s to the end of the 90’s or from
the start of the year 2000 until the present.
The expectation sought from the group is the diligence of collecting appropriate and
sufficient number of songs, properly labelled and identified. The correct year of release is
also expected to be competently researched to ensure that each song is properly categorized
in its specific timeline. After collecting sufficient data, the group proceeded with their study.

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Chapter 2

Problem Definition

This study was made so that we can compare the lengths of songs from ten to thirty years
ago, to those of the near future. Using the data we collected, we check if there is a significant
difference to their mean lengths.
Most people don’t care about how long a song is. Because of that, not much is known
about mean lengths of songs. Therefore, with this study, those interested would get more
information about songs.
The length of a song may or may not be associated to its genre, language, tempo, quality,
and many other things. Using the length of a song as a parameter, future studies could be
made on its association with the other aspects of a song. Although our study does not go
beyond comparing the mean lengths of songs from different time periods, it may be used as
a reference for said future studies.
The study assumes that there is no significant difference to the mean length of the songs
from the two time periods, then uses statistical methods to prove if this holds true or not.

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Chapter 3

Methodology

Song length and the year of release were the two most important variables that were taken
note of as the group gathered the sample songs. The titles and artists of the gathered songs
were also taken into account. All of these data are readily available through the song’s
metadata (i.e. details contained within an audio file such as title and artist). In certain
occasions, however, metadata does not contain all or some of the information we need, as in
most cases wherein data about the year of release is not included. Whenever the metadata
does not provide enough information, online song archives were consulted, as they could
also help verify if a certain song indeed has the details indicated in its metadata. This is
convenient because metadata is not protected from unwanted tampering which can lead to
wrong information in the metadata.
When the sample had been gathered, the group proceeded to the collection of numerical
data. The group was concerned with the average length of the songs for a certain range
of time so the sample was separated into two sets. One set for songs released within the
1980-1999 range and another for the 2000-2010 range were created and their means and
standard deviations computed.
At this point, there is enough data to proceed with statistical analysis. The group
used a two-tailed z-test to compare the mean of the two samples. Appropriate null and
alternative hypotheses were defined, and the level of significance set. The critical regions
were determined. As already mentioned, the test statistic z was chosen to be used in
making conclusions. And finally, computations were made to come up with an acceptable
conclusion.
A two-tailed test was chosen because it was desired to determine whether or not there
is a significant difference in the average length of songs between the two time periods, not

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whether a certain time period has a lower mean length than the other.
Note that both the computation for the means and standard deviations were double-
checked before proceeding to avoid unnecessary side effects in the analysis that will be
performed thereafter. Likewise, the statistical analysis itself was double-checked to ensure
that a valid conclusion would be arrived at by the group.

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Chapter 4

Data Summary

After gathering enough samples, the title, artist/s, length and year of release of each songs
were then collected. Only the last two, namely length and year of release, would be con-
sidered for computational purposes. The other two would to be used as labels for the
data.
The set for the 2000-2010 range contains 211 songs while the 1980-1999 range contains
95 songs. A graph showing the songs’ distribution is shown in Figure 4.3 by year of release
and in Figure 4.1 by song length for the 1980-1999 range while Figures 4.4 and 4.2 show
the song distribution by year and song length respectively for the 2000-2010 range.
The first set of statistics obtained was from the 2000-2010 time period. It has a sample
mean of 259.7488 seconds, standard deviation of 45.49232 and a variance of 2069.551. This
means that the songs within the 2000-2010 range mostly have a song length of 259.75
seconds varying with an average of 45.49 seconds from song to song.
The other set of statistics obtained was from the 1980-1999 time period. It has a sample
mean of 249.2 seconds, standard deviation of 51.36987 and a variance of 2638.864. This
means that the songs within the 1980-1999 range mostly have a song length of 249.2 seconds
varying with an average of 51.36987 seconds from song to song.
Although conclusions could be made at this point in the research, these conclusions are
baseless and irrelevant unless backed by proper statistical analysis.
These data was used for the statistical analysis in the next chapter to finally be able to
make conclusions and the corresponding implications.

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 Figure 4.1: Song Distribution By Song Length, 1980-1999

Figure 4.2: Song Distribution By Song Length, 2000-2010

Figure 4.3: Song Distribution By Year of Release, 1980-1999

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Figure 4.4: Song Distribution By Year of Release, 2000-2010

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Chapter 5

Statistical Analysis

The group established the folllowing hypotheses:

H0 : µ1 − µ2 = 0 (5.1)

HA : µ1 − µ2 6= 0 (5.2)

Equation 5.1 (the status quo) means that there is no difference between the average
length of the two time periods. Equation 5.2, meanwhile, represents the burden of proof,
that there is a significant difference between the average length of the two means.
The level of significance, α, used was 0.01.
The z distribution between two population means:

(x̄1 − x̄2 ) − (µ1 − µ2 )

z= q (5.3)
s21 s22
n + n

where

x̄1 sample mean of population 1

x̄2 sample mean of population 2

µ1 mean of population 1

µ2 mean of population 2

s21 sample variance of population 1

s22 sample variance of population 2

n1 sample count of population 1

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n2 sample count of population 2

The null hypothesis would be rejected if z ¿ 2.81.

Using equation 5.3, it was computed that z = 1.720646732. Since the computed value
is less than 2.81, we have sufficient evidence to prove the null hypothesis is true. Thus, we
do not reject the null hypothesis
By the statement above, we can conclude that there is no significant difference between
the mean length of the songs in the past generation (1980-1999) and the recent decade
(2000-2010).

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A Study on the Comparison of the Mean Length of OPM Songs from 1980-1999 and from
2000-2010

Chapter 6

Recommendations

This research is intended to determine whether the difference between the average length
of the two time periods 1980-1999 and 2000-2010 are significantly different which we have
proven to be false in the previous chapter. This will hold true for OPM songs only though.
One possible continuation of the research is to extend this conclusion to the international
music industry or at least to a any bigger scope such as Asia.
Another would be to co-relate this conclusion to other factors in order determine how a
song’s success (i.e. number of sales) could be affected by song length among other factors
in either the local or international market.
The conclusion could also be co-related to societal factors and its effect on the song-
length preference and in song preference in general of a certain group of people.

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