A cache management system and method and a content distribution system. In one embodiment, the cache management system includes: (1) a content request receiver configured to receive content requests, (2) a popularity lifetime prediction modeler coupled to the content request receiver and configured to generate popularity lifetime prediction models for content that can be cached based on at least some of the content requests, (3) a database coupled to the popularity lifetime prediction modeler and configured to contain the popularity lifetime prediction models and (4) a popularity lifetime prediction model matcher coupled to the content request receiver and the database and configured to match at least one content request to the popularity lifetime prediction models and control a cache based thereon.