Opinion: Is streaming helpful?
Clockwise from top left: logos from popular streaming services include iHeart Radio, Apple Music, Pandora and Spotify
February 4, 2016
Before I get started with this article let me explain what streaming is. Streaming, without being very technical about it, is the constant transfer of data into a steady processed stream. This allows music for services like Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, and even YouTube.
Now you are probably wondering, “why do I care?” I have been asking myself that question for the past few days. The answer then showed itself to me. While trying to write a review for an album I went on to Spotify to listen to the album. And of course, I chose to listen to one of the dozen artists that do not stream.
While this proved to be a problem at first, it did spike my interest. So, I did some reading and the issue is actually bigger than I expected. There are already a number of artists who have chosen to not allow streaming services to use their music. Those artists include Neil Young, Taylor Swift, Prince, Thom Yorke, Tool, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Bob Seeger and King Crimson.
The reasons span from a lack of physical connection (Tool) to the artists not wanting give their music away for free. Taylor is leading this movement with not wanting to give away her music.
As said by Swift in a Rolling Stone interview, “I’m not willing to contribute my life’s work to an experiment that I don’t feel fairly compensates the writers, producers, artists and creators of this music.”
The fact of the matter is that when we listen to music on free streaming services the musicians get little to nothing, other than advertisement. I’m not trying to put any guilt on anybody, because I also use streaming.
So does this mean that streaming services are going to destroy the music industry? Obviously not. Although it won’t destroy the industry, it will change it. I guess we will have to wait and see what that change is.
lolipop • Apr 8, 2016 at 3:24 pm
“Truly, online streaming is helpful to artists. According to the scholastic scope article, “You Won’t Find Her on Spotify”, most artists never receive much money from their recorded songs regardless to online streaming. The money that artists need to pay for all of the financial expenses mostly came from appearances, products, concerts, etc. Streaming can widespread songs to help artists become more popular in general. In the case that streaming was banned, many consumers of online streaming feel it would be too expensive to purchase all of the music that is streamed, so many of the songs would be unheard, therefore the artists will have less consumers of the products, wouldn’t be asked to appear as much, and not as many people would attend their concerts.
Others may argue that for all of the work that artists put in to make these songs, they earn very little money, however, a closer look reveals that the money earned never really made a difference anyway. There are those who believe that online streaming is similar to the illegal online selling of music(piracy). Piracy is completely different than streaming, shown through who gets the money. In streaming those who created the application or site, although it is a little amount, pay back the artist, and in piracy those who are selling the music completely copy the audio of the song and selfishly keep all of the money to themselves. Ultimately streaming is undoubtedly helpful to artists.
Levi Copas • Feb 4, 2016 at 1:31 pm
For someone who enjoys a wide variety of music, streaming seems like a very good way to listen to the music I like.