Ever fallen in love with a song ONLY because you heard it over and over again on the radio and the video was always on repeat?

If your answer is yes, that's not an accident. Record executives know you are more likely to buy a song if you hear if you are bombarded with it so they pay top dollar to make that happen. So if you want to find out the ridic amount of mula it takes to get enough record spins to make a #1 hit, and a TRUE inside look into the business of pop stardom, read on.....

There's a very specific formula used to make hits like Rihanna's "What's My Name" and Kelly Rowland's "Motivation."

NPR just released how much it REALLY costs to make a record (they researched Rihanna in particular)...and the expenses reach far beyond the artists and musicians on the track. No wonder these artists make no money off selling the actual music.

NPR recently published a very interesting article for music lovers that shows the amount of money, market research and advertising it takes to take a simply melody or track from the pen of writer to the top of the charts. And folks like Rihanna, Gaga, Selena Gomez, and more pay over a million (via their label and own pockets) in cash just for one hit.

Here's the break down: A lot of money is spent upfront. Companies often hire songwriters and proven hit makers to attend a writing camp, which is usually a cushy situation where writers are pampered in a studio while they attempt to write hits. At this point you are paying writers and music producers to work together for a potential track and this could cost you up to $20,000.

But if you are a "pop star" it costs a lot more. In fact, record exec Ray Daniels said JUST the writing camp for Rihanna's LOUD album "had to cost at least 200 grand," Daniels said.

"It was at least forty guys out there. I was shocked at how much money they were spending! But, guess what? They got the whole album out of that one camp."

Then the artist, like Kelly Rowland, is paid to come to the studio and perform the song. But first the company has to make her want to "feel" like singing. So the artist is given whatever they need from candles to food to alcohol and "props" to get into the mood. Then there is a producer for the vocals, and an engineer to mix the track. At this point, you might be up to $100K...and that's only if you didn't have to pay Nicki Minaj $50K to hop on the track too.

But the big bucks come into the song roll out. Though some people, like Soulja Boy, have been able to get hits based on independent internet promotion alone (VERY smart move), the average artist has to go "old-school" and kiss the ass of radio and tv executives. This involves taking execs out on fancy dinners, developing a marketing strategy for the song and its audience, paying for the artist to travel and promote the song and doing tons of favors.

THEN....they have to get the track on the air...and it may still turn out to be a flop.

That process alone could cost you up to a MILLION bucks...

So the next time you wonder why an artist gets pissy they sell only a small amount of records (e.g. Ciara), or why pure talents like Raheem DaVaughn and Leela James are constantly drowned out, remember that the label has to actually WANT to invest in superstars. It's not just based on talent or a pretty melody alone. And real talent is hard to come by in this industry these days.

This biz aint for the weary. Only for those lucky enough to get record execs to give a damn....