For an industry existing in the internet age, finding a way to create excitement about a release requires a lot of effort. In addition to surprise releases, as in the case of Beyoncé, automatic uploads (U2), or special countdowns and cryptic messages (Rihanna), artists and their management teams are constantly developing ways to create interest, drive sells and get people… Read more →
Category: Streaming
Why Streaming is the Most Popular Way to Listen to Music
At the turn of the century, the music industry faced a cataclysmic downfall at the hands of the World Wide Web. Once an impenetrable vanguard of American innovation and the largest representation of the country’s culture and continued artistic endeavors worldwide, the industry of empires like Motown and Capitol Records was blindsided by the growth of internet downloads via file… Read more →
Payola Has Made A Comeback, And Here’s the Problem
America of the 1950s is one of the most nostalgic eras in the history of our young country. The decade is defined by sock hops, diners, drive-ins, and rock and roll music that defined a generation and inspired others. Television had only just become a thing, and services of today like YouTube certainly hadn’t been conceptualized, let alone The Internet.… Read more →
The Uncertain Future of Music
Centuries ago, music was used as an expression of cultural customs or commissioned by the wealthy for the purpose of entertainment. That is still true today, however, at the turn of the last century, thanks to inventions like the phonograph and radio, music became much more than personal art, it became business–a largely successful one, to be sure. By the… Read more →
Would Soundcloud’s Subscription Service Harm or Hurt Indie Artists
Last week it was revealed that the online music streaming service Soundcloud resolved its issues with Sony Music Entertainment, and would again have access to content from the latter’s artists and musicians through a recent licensing deal. The two powerful entities sparred over a reported lack of proper compensation, similar to the issue many have cited with YouTube (to which… Read more →
Will Pop Stars Make Streaming Irrelevant?
In the wee hours of aThursday night, December 12, 2013, Beyoncé did the unthinkable by dropping a full length album on iTunes, without warning nor promotion, save simultaneous Facebook and Instagram posts, signaling her arrival once the music was already available. In addition to scarce marketing, something else was noticeably absent: the album was not available on Spotify or other… Read more →