How to Use Social Media When You Hate It & Why Streaming Math Ain't Mathin' - Q&A Special
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Jul 29, 2025
Dive into the harsh realities of streaming economics and social media burnout in the music industry. Discover why massive streaming numbers don't guarantee financial stability for artists. Learn how to transform social media from a chore into a storytelling tool. Explore the challenges of live streaming and its inability to replicate the authentic concert experience. Sean exposes the disconnect between streaming success and real fan engagement, urging musicians to rethink their approach in an exploitative system.
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Use Social Media As Artistic Extension
Reframe social media as an extension of your artistic storytelling and world-building.
Post like no one's watching to engage authentically and aid algorithmic understanding of your art.
insights INSIGHT
Future of Streaming: Decentralization Needed
Spotify's monopoly risks ethical issues through investor and content choices.
Decentralized platforms and easy migration of music collections may reshape streaming in five years.
insights INSIGHT
Limits of Live Streaming Gigs
Live streaming gigs lack the visceral, immersive experience of in-person shows.
Certain curated digital performances can succeed, but the medium struggles with quality and connection.
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In this special Q&A episode, DiS founder Sean Adams explores the uncomfortable truths about streaming economics, social media burnout, and why the music industry's success metrics are fundamentally broken.
From debunking the myth that millions of streams equal financial stability to reframing social media as an extension of artistic practice, Sean answers your questions and offers practical wisdom for navigating an industry designed to exploit rather than support creators.
This episode strips away the glossy veneer of streaming success stories to reveal the harsh mathematical reality: an artist with 25 million streams over a decade might earn just £6,000 annually - less than minimum wage, before expenses. Sean explores why massive streaming numbers rarely translate to sustainable live audiences and how platforms like Spotify actively prevent artists from connecting with their own listeners.
Timestamped Chapters:
[00:00] Introduction
[01:31] What do you tell an artist that has great music but hates social media?
[09:46] What will streaming look like in five years?
[14:57] Is there still a place for live streaming gigs?
[20:37] Does 25 million Spotify streams pay enough to live on?
[27:07] The difference between building a fanbase and streaming numbers
[32:35] Outro and preview for Part 2
[34:01] Bonus track: Kate Nash on MySpace
Key Takeaways:
How to transform social media from promotional burden into artistic storytelling extension
Recognise the disconnect between streaming numbers and actual audience connection
Focus on platforms that enable direct fan communication rather than vanity metrics
Consider live streaming only for performances designed specifically for digital consumption
Sarah Howells (LinkedIn): Advice for great artists who hate social media
Mark Painting (LinkedIn): Will streaming consolidate or fragment in five years?
Paul Gaffigan (Email): Is there still a place for live streaming post-lockdown?
Tony Moss (Email): Breaking down the 25 million streams success myth
Continue the Conversation:
Send your questions for future Q&A episodes to sean@drownedinsound.org or find Sean online. What music industry myths need debunking next?
About the Host:
Sean Adams is the founder of Drowned in Sound, an independent music publication that has championed underground and independent artists since 2000. Through the DiS podcast, newsletter, and community, Sean explores how to build a fairer, more sustainable music industry while supporting the artists and fans who make it meaningful.
Next Episode Preview:
Part two continues with Sean's analysis of the Disarmed Spotify movement - why musicians are pulling their music and fans are abandoning the platform they once trusted.
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