Is Streaming Ruining the Music Industry?

Is Streaming Ruining the Music Industry?

Streaming is a video and audio broadcast delivered to your computer, tablet, phone or TV in real time over the internet. It does not need to be downloaded in order to be watched and heard on your device. 

In order to stream, the listener will need to have a broadband internet connection and an app or computer that is compatible with the streaming service in which they are participating. Streaming services are currently available for devices such as phones, computers, televisions, and even gaming consoles. 

Music streaming requires a very small amount of broadband data and therefore can be streamed by almost anyone with mobile data on their phone. Typically you can change the quality of the music streaming, of course this means that more data will be used if you have the quality settings on the highest possible settings. Most people will only use the highest streaming settings when using their home broadband. Some users still report buffering and stopping because their broadband can’t keep up with the music quality. You can compare broadband deals if you want to stream the highest quality music and video. 

Is Streaming Ruining the Music Industry?

Streaming is most commonly used for watching videos but you can also use it to listen to music. Since 2011, millions of people have flocked to Spotify for the pure convenience of thousands of songs available in an instant.  

Spotify has been able to improve the situation of artists in recent years. Artists now get a decent percentage of the income off their songs, since Spotify pays them. Europe’s largest online music retailer, Amazon Prime Music, offers unlimited monthly streaming for £7.99 in the UK and $9.99 in the US. It also allows users to download a song or entire album for free but does not pay artists.

Musicians have been noticing a negative impact on the music industry as streaming has become more popular. Some reasons are clear, such as Spotify taking money off of recordings that go out to radio stations without compensating the artist for their work.

Record labels are also starting to notice streaming negatively affecting sales of physical media formats because listeners now have unlimited access to songs they can choose to purchase at any time from any device they own.

Music streaming has been a huge paradigm shift in the music industry. The ability to access countless songs, albums, and artists in minutes has allowed artists to be more creative.

However, it has also created multiple problems for musicians who are less likely to be able to make a living from their music by selling physical media formats like CDs and DVDs. This is unlikely to affect the multimillionaire artists like JayZ and Taylor Swift, instead it has a larger impact on local musicians and bands. 

The overall downside of music streaming is that it seems to be taking away the selling power that physical media formats hold.

As a result, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for bands and musicians to make money. Artists are being encouraged to not rely on streaming subscriptions as a way of making money but instead on touring more or writing songs for other artists.

In conclusion, music streaming is a great way for users to experience music and video on a really low budget. However, it’s impacted the music industry in a way that leaves the future uncertain. Especially in the current era of music gigs being cancelled due to the pandemic. Artists and fans are actively trying to encourage Spotify to pay artists more so they can rely on music streaming as a primary income.Â