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Liz Pelly, "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist" (Atria, 2025)

New Books in Economics

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The Economics of Streaming: Inequities in Music Revenue

This chapter explores the financial intricacies of Spotify and the broader music industry, revealing that while substantial royalties are generated, most revenues benefit record labels and shareholders rather than artists. It highlights the challenges faced by session musicians and independent artists, emphasizing the disparities created by existing contracts and the role of intermediaries in revenue distribution. The discussion also touches on legislative efforts in Belgium and the Netherlands aimed at achieving fairer revenue splits for artists, amidst concerns about industry consolidation.

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