Taylor Swift gained notoriety in November 2014 when she took her discography down from Spotify, citing inadequate artist pay.
A number of other musicians protested what they perceived to be an unjust agreement by doing likewise.
The issue of artist pay was by far the most worrying, but poor sound quality and user privacy were two additional difficulties that music streaming services had to deal with.
Nevertheless, in spite of these issues, streaming services have been essential in bringing about improvements.
Furthermore, listeners and industry experts have benefited from these advances just as much as artists have.
Let’s examine these enhancements in more detail.
1. Reduced Piracy Impact:
· Music streaming platforms significantly reduced piracy, addressing a prevalent issue from 1999 to the late 2000s.
· Spotify, launched in 2008, disrupted the industry with a customer reorientation campaign, offering affordable legal streaming.
· Availability of affordable legal streaming led to a significant decline in piracy, positively impacting the industry’s financial trajectory.
2. Cost-Effective Streaming:
· In the CD era, musical exploration was costly, with albums priced up to $20 each.
· Contrastingly, music streaming services like Spotify now offer millions of songs at a much lower cost, with a premium subscription at $10.99/month.
· The accessibility and affordability of streaming have transformed how fans access songs, even allowing immediate post-release listening and access to extensive artist discographies.
3. Reintroduction of Song Credits:
· Streaming platforms, such as Spotify and Tidal, reintroduced song credits, acknowledging contributors like songwriters and producers.
· In the CD era, liner notes were common, but the digital shift led to a decline in recognizing behind-the-scenes contributors.
· Tidal, especially, has elevated this feature with extensive credits for various contributors, including keyboardists and programmers.
4. Extended Artist Reach:
· Pre-streaming artists had limited geographic reach due to the absence of global music consumption platforms.
· Music streaming services, led by Spotify with over 550 million monthly active users, have expanded artists’ reach globally.
· This global availability allows fans to access artists from anywhere, with many achieving billions of streams.
· By using promotional and marketing services, you can further improve your audience reach on the platform.
5. Enhanced Music Discovery:
· Streaming platforms offer accessibility to a diverse range of artists, songs, and genres, facilitating broader music exploration.
· Features like playlists, charts, and genre sections aid listeners in discovering new sounds.
· Music lovers can experiment with these features to enhance playlists and develop a diverse taste.
6. Facilitating New Artist Careers:
· Streaming services have simplified the path for new artists to launch their careers globally by providing a large audience.
· Aspiring artists can upload their songs on platforms like SoundCloud or YouTube, gaining exposure.
· Notable success stories include Post Malone, who gained prominence through SoundCloud, showcasing the transformative impact of streaming on artist opportunities.
Conclusion
In a transformative wave, music streaming services have reshaped the music industry by curbing piracy, making music more affordable and accessible, reintroducing song credits, extending artist reach globally, and fostering diverse music discovery. These changes have not only revitalized industry revenue but also empowered emerging artists, marking a dynamic shift in the music landscape.
