In the real world, working musicians have to market their own CDs (or vinyl) at shows or on sites to justify the cost of those things, and nobody (or nearly nobody) makes much money selling physical product. The value of streaming is to advertise yourself and maybe entice somebody to come to a show. If you're actually good (many aren't) you better hit the road hard and long until you can sell out little room and get some actual bucks. Recording deals just ain't the way as they generally saddle you with huge expenses and often take your control away. That's simply how it is.
I Sold my CD Player!!! Streaming sounds so incredible!!!
Several years ago, was the very first time I had the opportunity to hear a very high end, high quality, streaming audio system. Once I heard it, I was smitten, and I knew right then and there that this was me all the way!!! I was absolutely blown away by the handy convenience of the little iPad (or cell phone) used as remotes to control the otherworldly access to a virtual ocean of music via Tidal, Qobuz or downloads. I immediately recognized this new technology as the future of my own audio system, especially with all the new hi rez stuff out there that was now made available. I gave up vinyl when CD came on the scene (yes, I'm an old guy), and, now, perhaps, it would be finally time to retire my beloved CD player. Long story short: What put my streaming audio system over the top, as far as sound quality is concerned, was the assemblage of these core streaming devices-----( #1) A superb DAC, by Ayre Acoustics QX-5 Twenty streaming DAC (#2) An outstanding music server, by Roon Nucleus Plus (#3) An outstanding Audio Switch, by Pakedge Devices (#4) Excellent Ethernet Cables, by Shunyata Sigma. I also utilize numerous other tweaks and filters that further purify the streaming audio signal within my room and audio system. At this juncture in life, I am just mesmerized by the combination of sound quality and convenience that I get through my streaming audio system. I'm also happy and pleased to report that, I don't miss my old beloved CD player one bit. Happy listening.
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Music streaming = 84% of music industry revenue Spotify subscriber count = 700+ Million Apple music subscriber count = 200+ million Bandcamp: 180+ million Soundcloud: 140+ million Youtube music = 100+ million Amazon music: 82+ million Sirius XM: 33+ million Deezer: 10+ million Pandora: 6+ million Napster: 5 million Tidal = 2 million Qobuz = 200k etc Number of vinyl records sold in 2023: 49 million Number of CDs sold in 2023: 38 million
Such is life, it appears.
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@wolf_garcia +1 I can agree that many artists receive too little compensation. But lets imagine a world without streaming where record companies control the marketing and promotion of artists they chose to work with. So, you're a beginning artist, who's going to market, promote, press hard copy for you! Nope, you better have big bucks behind you if you're independent of the record companies.
Don't delude yourself there was some golden age for artists in this country. Just last night I was listening to Randy Burns, acid folk artist from NYC from back in the 60's, in the vein of Pearls Before Swine, both on the legendary indie label ESP. These guys never made a buck, were hardly heard, sad, sad, sad. And I can say this about tons of both old and contemporary artists I've only found because of streaming. Did all those bebop jazz and blues musicians benefit from the old ways, nope. And how about all the musicians who couldn't even get signed to any label, they die and/or leave music without anyone other than a few close friends getting to hear their music.
I mostly despise hard copy business model these days, how about the thousandth release of some Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan or any of a hundred old artists, albums selling for high dollars. Just how much money do you think average consumers have to spend on music, their entire monthly budget could be used up on a single album. The hard copy way of doing business is obsolete, only a few artists benefit at all.
Streaming and live performance/marketing will be the only business model going forward for vast majority of artists. It will be up to artists and consumers which way it goes in regard to remuneration.
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Name me one artist, group, or orchestra that is satisfied with the present system and wouldn’t want to go back to the older one. Yes, that one had its problems but they pale in comparison. Musicians just adapted and now it’s the new normal. Back when Napster first came out, all the online comments were: screw the artists, I don’t care, why buy it when I can get it for free, f*ck them all, etc. It became a thieves nation on a musical scale (pardon the pun). A whole industry was built on that frame of mind which brings us to the present, with companies finding new ways to dig even deeper into our pockets. They even created an entire new value system to back it up to make one memory hole the past. When I buy from someplace like Bandcamp, they offer downloads, vinyl and CDs at their respective prices. They even give you the option of paying more if you like and the shipping is on me. It’s one of the few refuges where artists can make a buck. I don’t mind that at all. Sometimes the artist will sell on Amazon and if so, I’ll buy it from there. When Alexander saw the breadth of his music domain, he wept and then went streaming. All the best, |
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