Spotify's Influence and Industry Dynamics

This chapter examines Spotify's dominance in the streaming music industry, detailing its innovative introduction of a free ad-supported tier and its impact on the music business's recovery from piracy. It discusses the challenges Spotify faced in the U.S. market, focusing on its strategic shift to curated content and algorithmic recommendations to engage wider audiences. The chapter further explores the complex relationship between major labels and streaming services, highlighting how new pay-to-play schemes and commercial deals have perpetuated existing hierarchies rather than democratizing access for independent artists.