For many millennials and the older end of Generation Z, their first memories of purchasing music came from downloading their favorite songs onto their beloved iPod or hand-me-down MP3 player. The thrill of buying the latest single, EP or album from the artists of their choice created core memories that some still bring up to this day, especially with the resurgence of Y2K fashion trends bringing back MP3 players and wired headphones. Now, in the era of streaming, the way we consume music has completely changed.
Streaming was introduced in the late 1990s by a platform called Napster. This platform was the first of its kind to use peer-to-peer file sharing to spread music to consumers. Consumers had a more accessible way to share music by directly sharing audio files with whoever they wanted instead of buying physical copies or digital downloads of the music they wanted to hear. However, they faced legal issues, most notably being sued for copyright infringement since no one in the music industry was paid by this platform, and were forced to shut down. While they no longer exist as a streaming platform, they laid the groundwork for popular companies today, such as Spotify or Apple Music.
Spotify changed the game for streaming companies because of their vast array of music options and their subscription model. Unlike other platforms, Spotify was the first to give users access to any song uploaded to their platform. From Ella Fitzgerald to Prince to Taylor Swift, users could stream practically any song they wanted on the platform.
Their streaming model also provided a new way to pay for music. Instead of paying per song or album, users now pay a set price per month to access music. This was a revolutionary change in the music industry, causing other platforms to adopt this model, but the artists on these platforms make a lot less money from this form of payment compared to buying physical copies or digital downloads of music.
Depending on the streaming platform, artists make less than one cent per song streamed. This is significantly lower than the iTunes store payment of $1.29 per song download. When you look at how much albums cost in stores, there is a severe disparity between buying physical or digital copies versus streaming an album. In stores, a vinyl record could cost between $25 to $40, and a CD sells for about $12 to $20. In the iTunes store, a digital download of a ten-track album could cost at least $9.99.
However, with streaming, an album has no set price since consumers pay the subscription price. So how many streams would it take to equate to buying a physical copy or digital download of an album? According to chartdata.org’s research, a ten-track album sale is the equivalent of 1,250 premium subscription song streams or 3,750 free subscription song streams.
Some people worry that they are less of a fan of an artist because they stream an album instead of purchasing a physical copy or digitally downloading it. Although it takes significantly more effort for an artist to make money from streaming, that does not mean that strictly streaming music makes you a worse fan. If you are someone who wants to monetarily support an artist, you could start buying physical copies or digital downloads of an album, but there are other avenues you could take to support your favorite acts.
Many artists tour to bring in money, and they often sell merch at their shows or in their online stores. Artists heavily rely on merch sales during touring because it is a great source of income while they are on the road. For every piece of merch sold, the artist is paid a percentage of the sale, which can be used for anything they want, but most often is put towards covering touring expenses. Purchasing a ticket to a live show or buying a shirt at the merch stand is a great way to show monetary support.
Buying merch also reflects a bigger trend of fans wanting physical products, especially with the growing popularity of vinyl. Fans want to have a tangible connection to their favorite bands or artists. Buying merch, such as vinyls or CDs, from these sources not only creates a community of like-minded fans but also showcases individuality and unwavering support for the artist. The revenue from these sales goes back to their favorite band or artist, so both the fan and artist are happy with their purchase.
Outside of supporting your favorite acts monetarily, listening to their music and sharing it with friends is a great way to express your appreciation and expand this act’s audience. Some of these could mean buying a concert ticket or merch for you and your friends, but it could be as simple as playing their songs in the car on a long road trip with your family. There are different, creative ways to show your support for your favorite bands, and streaming is not the make-or-break to determine whether your love for these acts is strong enough.
So, does purchasing an album instead of strictly streaming it make you a better fan? No. As long as you fuel your passion for your favorite acts, you will continue to support your beloved artists.
