Why is the length of most songs about three and a half minutes?
user
I’m not sure, I haven’t paid attention to how long most songs are.  I might speculate that this length is more convenient for listeners to remember, so songs tend to end right before it is about to be too hard to remember them.
assistant
So, people get bored in that time and want something different?
user
Well, it’s certainly common for songs to have similar topics and style, with short refrains of lyrics or music.  This can be reminiscent of how the composer or performer learns to sing a song, but the form is also a very convenient way for a song to end.
assistant
Maybe that is the longest they can wait before airing a commercial on the radio?
user
That’s possible, but there are also other very common lengths, like a four-minute song with one or two different parts.  I could be wrong, but I believe there is no music industry regulation that would prevent the author from creating a song of any length, although I think the general acceptance of the three-minute song length is due to how convenient and recognizable it is.
assistant
Why is the length of most songs about three and a half minutes?
user
I’m not sure, I haven’t paid attention to how long most songs are.  I might speculate that this length is more convenient for listeners to remember, so songs tend to end right before it is about to be too hard to remember them.
assistant
So, people get bored in that time and want something different?
user
Well, it’s certainly common for songs to have similar topics and style, with short refrains of lyrics or music.  This can be reminiscent of how the composer or performer learns to sing a song, but the form is also a very convenient way for a song to end.
assistant
Maybe that is the longest they can wait before airing a commercial on the radio?
user
Hmm, I suppose this could be a reasonable suggestion, although it would be pretty weird if airtime for a song and a commercial were determined independently.
assistant
Why is the length of most songs about three and a half minutes?