New Books in Economics cover image

New Books in Economics

Eric Drott, "Streaming Music, Streaming Capital" (Duke UP, 2024)

Dec 6, 2024
Eric Drott, Associate Professor of Music Theory at the University of Texas at Austin, delves into the complex relationship between streaming music and capitalism. He highlights how streaming services have reshaped music categorization and consumer behavior, often reflecting identity in the digital economy. Drott tackles issues like consumer surveillance, revenue distribution inequities for artists, and the impact of AI-generated music. His analysis pushes us to reconsider the commodification of music and its implications for the future.
01:34:12

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Quick takeaways

  • The shift from physical music sales to streaming services has decommodified music's accessibility, benefiting listeners but complicating fair compensation for artists.
  • Streaming platforms create a multi-sided marketplace with diverse user groups, altering audience dynamics and complicating the definition of who truly constitutes the music audience.

Deep dives

The Role of Streaming Platforms in Music Distribution

Streaming platforms have fundamentally transformed music consumption by shifting the industry from physical sales to digital access. With services like Spotify, users can listen to an extensive library of music for a subscription fee, which effectively commodifies music while simultaneously decommodifying its accessibility. This model allows listeners to enjoy music without directly purchasing individual tracks, thereby fostering a more casual engagement with musical content. However, this transition raises questions about the sustainability of compensation for artists, as revenue flows predominantly favor the platforms and major record labels.

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