Op-Ed

Since the early 2000’s, Cd sales have plummeted as technology has advanced and internet has become a common necessity found in every home. This has left the music industry looking for answers. Which has led to the backlash of music streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple music. These music streaming services are saving artists by preventing illegal downloads. These services are so easily accessible that users will choose to deal with a few ads here and there to listen to anything they want.

Most people don’t understand how music streaming services work. Whether users have free accounts with ads or paid accounts without ads, artists are receiving a percentage of money for every song that is played. This percentage depends on the artists themselves. Artists such as Drake and Rihanna are receiving more than artists such as the Deftones and Tegan and Sara.

So why is everyone blaming music streaming services? Well the amount of news articles covering this situation doesn’t help. There have been countless headlines putting direct blame on music streaming services for being the reason new artists can’t succeed. The music streaming service, Spotify works with new artists through there subsite, artists.spotify.com. This site helps aspiring musicians build their careers and make the most out of Spotify’s global reach. New artists whose songs land on popular playlists can watch their streams hit several digits in a matter of weeks, earning them a substantial amount.

In all reality, music streaming services have brought purchasing music legally back in the spot light. After Spotify first launched in 2011, countless music streaming services have emerged. These services are all legal and artists are paid royalties. A study by the European Commission in 2015 found that Spotify reduced illegal swapping and torrenting. With 47 Spotify streams specifically replacing one illegal download. The author asserted this information was “consistent with the existing literature, our analysis also shows that Spotify displaces music piracy.”

In a world of always advancing technology, music streaming services are keeping up with the times and remaining current. Cd’s have been becoming obsolete since the internet has become accessible to everyone. Music streaming services allows users to save space on their phones by not having to download music and saves space in homes by not having to buy Cd’s, as well as conserves waste. Illegally downloading music has taken money from countless artists. Although this practice continues today, through music streaming service’s ease of use, people are choosing to listen and download music legally.