How many songs have been recorded throughout history? Try to explain your answer. Your explanation should take the reader through your reasoning step-by-step.

It is difficult to estimate the exact number of songs that have been recorded throughout history , as there is no compreh ensive database of all the songs that have ever been created . However , we can make an educated guess based on some assumptions and estimates . \n \n First , let ' s consider the definition of a " song ." A song is a musical composition that typically includes lyr ics and mel ody . It can be performed by one person or a group of people , and can be accompanied by various instruments or without any . \n \n Next , let ' s consider the time period we are talking about . The history of music sp ans thousands of years , from ancient civil izations to the present day . D ifferent cult ures and er as have produced their own unique styles of music , and the technology for recording and distrib uting music has evol ved significantly over time . \n \n Ass uming that we are only counting recorded songs and not live performances , we can make some estimates based on the avail ability of record ings . For example , in the 2 0 th century , the advent of audio recording technology made it possible to record and dist ribute music on a large scale . According to some estimates , over 2 0 million songs were recorded in the 2 0 th century alone . \n \n In the digital age , the number of recorded songs has increased dram atically due to the ease of recording and distrib uting music online . It is estimated that there are now over 2 0 0 million songs available on streaming platforms alone . \n \n However , it ' s important to note that not all of these songs are unique compos itions . Many songs are covers or variations of existing songs , and some songs may have been recorded multiple times by different artists . \n \n In conclusion , it is difficult to estimate the exact number of songs that have been recorded throughout history . However , based on our assumptions and estimates , we can estimate that there have been millions of songs recorded in the 2 0 th century alone , and there are now over 2 0 0 million songs available on streaming platforms . </s>