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Originality, influence, and success: A model of creative style

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Abstract

Creative workers strive to achieve success and influence by producing original output. In this paper we introduce a model of style, which enables us to define and measure originality and influence. We apply the model to classical music composed since the 15th century. Using extensive data on the content of musical compositions, popular success, and biographical information, we apply and test the proposed methodology. We find that more original composers tend to be more influential upon the work of their later peers and more successful with present-day audiences. A positive association between originality and influence also holds across works by a given composer. This opens paths for numerous other applications of this methodology.

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  • Borowiecki, Karol Jan & Mauri, Caterina Adelaide, 2021. "Originality, influence, and success: A model of creative style," Discussion Papers on Economics 6/2021, University of Southern Denmark, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:sdueko:2021_006
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Creativity; innovation; influence; style; music history; creative industries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • N30 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • Z11 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economics of the Arts and Literature

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