Streaming Is Killing The Music Industry

[renegadefm]

I think it's fair to say we definetly have had the best years behind us in terms of how we buy and listen to music. In my opinion the music industry has never looked so bad. As a fan I used to get great pleasure from buying the physical product, and lots of artists, and I used to buy all the formats of their singles, even the cassette singles, remember them?

Streaming has taken all that away from us, but more importantly from the artist too.

Sadly it won't change back as it was, but I do think stricter rules need to be applied, as artists really are being short changed. I think streaming should be only used to check out new or unheard music to see if you like it enough to buy the physical album, it just seems a fairer way of doing things. I have a Spotify account but I only use it to check out music I have never heard before, and it helps me build my physical media collection. And used sensibly and fairly it helps you purchase and build a quality collection, rather than taking a punt on an album, only to find it's filled with duffers, which is a waste of money. I never agreed with the Official chart company when they included streaming into how it influences chart positions. There are many reasons I am against it, for example, I forget the amount, but apparently a song has to be listened to on streaming platforms hundreds of times to count as one sale. That alone is short changing the artist and is extremely unfair. Plus if you monitor the top 100 singles some of the singles on there have been in the top 100 for years, which makes the charts stagnant, and not refreshing as it did before streaming was allowed to count as chart positions. So that in itself slows the whole industry down, because it prevents new material coming along. In the days when the physical format counted towards chart positions the charts were a much healthier place because a music fan would hear a song on the radio or TV and go out and buy it, because they are putting their money where their mouth is, and dedicating themselves to being a fan, and it meant a lot to have a hit in those days for the artist, as it highlighted how popular the song really is, compared to being number 1 now doesn't really mean anything anymore. The sad thing is it's now affecting the album charts too which has become very stagnant, some albums have been in the top 20 for years let alone the top 100. It makes you wonder how anyone would want to be a pop or rock star anymore, we really have had the best years, not just for the artist but the fans too. It's boring trying to be a fan these days. Growing up as a kid in the 70's early 80's was amazing, I used to wait all week for Top of the pops to come on, and if your favourite artist were on there it was awesome, and I would be chatting all about it with my mates at school the next day. I know things will never be that great again, but I do feel something needs to be done to make the whole music industry fair again, it's really no fun being a fan anymore, and extremely unfair for the artists. I think if streaming services were regulated in such a way they are only used as a toe dip in the water, for the listener to go on and buy the CD or whatever it would be a lot fairer for both fan and artist. There is no reason I can see why the two platforms streaming and physical media cou.ldn't work together, and I am baffled why more artists are not calling for this.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - As I read it, the OP is9 referencing British pop, but hopefully Renegade will be along to clarify. 

[naomi24]

Can't think why, but ok.

[andy-hughes]

Because of what the OP says, that's why.

[naomi24]

He's talking about the 'whole industry'.  

[douglas9401]

Jeepers, daddy-o, get hep to the jive and not the buzzkill.

[renegadefm]

Hi guys, 

Sorry for any confusion, and to be clear I am referring to the Official UK singles charts.

New rules in 2015 meant that streaming was included into how chart positions are affected. 

But because most people stream now, it's all wrong in my opinion. 

The charts are now so stagnant, and suggest a big chunk of the public are all listening to the same song for years. 

[douglas9401]

Their money, their choice.

One might ask who died and made you the arbiter of all taste?

[andy-hughes]

Renegade  - Thanks for the confirmation. 

Naomi - Anything to add?

[naomi24]

Nothing to add.  As I said the UK charts aren't restricted to Uk music.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi -  No-one said they were, except you, labouring an irrelevant point. 

[naomi24]

Andy Hughes, no, that was you.  //Since the OP refers to the Official Charts, it clearly is about the UK.//

 

I've made my position clear throughout this discussion - the UK charts are not confined to the music of the UK -  but since you've tripped yourself up and are not in the business of conceding that you're wrong, you will no doubt carry on 'labouring'.  Enjoy.

[ichkeria]

Just because a list of best selling tunes is different from the way it was has no particular bearing on the state of music: it seems to me that music is in a healthy state: it has to compete for the attentions of the casual listener and viewer more, but in that respect streaming I would have thought is a lifeline.

[Khandro]

One person worked long hours in factories, mines, working the land and toiling at rotten jobs to subsist, while a few others, mostly second-rate musicians, twanged on guitars for a few hours, were stoned on drugs and became millionaires.

If that world has come to an end who cares ? I don't. 🤣

[andy-hughes]

What a little ray of sunshine you are!!

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - You queried if the charts referred to were the UK Charts, which they are.

No-one mentioned charts referring only to UK artists - why would they - until you brought it up.

I made no error, If I had I would have admitted it.

I don't suffer from an inability to admit being wrong,  which is probably just as well!

[naomi24]

Andy Hughes,  //You queried if the charts referred to were the UK Charts,//

 

No, I didn't query that. The conversation I referred to was that between you and I about performers.  There appear to be some crossed wires here.

[andy-hughes]

Fair enough, no harm.

[Canary42]

Get a room you two.

[andy-hughes]

Canary  - In the spirit of Easter, my learned friend and I are declining yo descend into one of our tedious, not-giving-up, having-the-last-word, sarcasm-drenched head-butting arguments. 

You're welcome.