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storytelling with data podcast: #94 the uncharted territory of data and music with Chris Dalla Riva

·41 min·3 clips

Billboard created “R and B” to replace the “race records” chart.

Mike introduces Chris Dalariva as someone who blends art, numbers, and narrative. Chris works on analytics and personalization at AudioMac. He also writes about music for a general audience. That mix shapes the whole conversation. Chris knows music from the inside. He also knows how people discover and engage with it on the data side. The discussion moves through his newsletter, Can't Get Much Higher. It also points to his book, Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us About the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves. A major thread is how to write about complex material without making it feel cold. Chris says he keeps the most technical material in a footnote. That way, readers who want the detail can find it. He keeps the main body of a piece approachable. The goal is not to strip out the facts. It is to keep the writing useful and easy to follow. Music helps him do that. A familiar song can ground a point that might otherwise feel abstract. That gives him a concrete reference right next to the numbers. The result is writing that stays practical, readable, and human. The episode keeps returning to the value of speaking to a general audience. Chris is not trying to make data feel like a calculus textbook. He is trying to make it feel like something a normal listener can follow. That makes the conversation especially useful for anyone who writes, presents, or teaches with data.

As heard by us

Chris Dalariva makes technical music writing feel plainspoken and easy to follow.

Chris Dalariva comes across as someone who moves easily between music, analysis, writing, and social media. His work at AudioMac gives him a practical angle on how people find and use music, and the newsletter and posts extend that same outlook in a more public way.

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Why you'd press play

If you need data to sound human, this conversation shows how to do it without losing the numbers.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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