This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply. Bloomberg: Merlin, an organization made up of some of the world’s top indie labels, distributed $353 million to members over the past year — a 52 percent jump from a year earlier, the group will announce Thursday. The credit goes to streaming — internet services like Spotify and Apple Music that give listeners access to millions of songs for a monthly fee or for free if they’re willing to hear ads. No longer needing to press and distribute physical CDs, independent record labels can now reach a global audience at lower costs — and close the gap with the Big Three of Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, Sony Corp.’s Sony Music Entertainment and Access Industries’ Warner Music Group. Expand - View Original
Streaming has created a new set of problems for all parties, but I still think on the whole it's better for everyone (artists, consumers, labels and even advertisers). I pay $15/month for Spotify and steam 20,000+ songs a year. $180/year in music on streaming alone to Spotify, with $120/year going to artists if 1 stream = .006 cents (some rough number I read a year or so ago) . I understand I'm in a top percentile for streams... I'm actually a bad investment for Spotify because they're only seeing 1/3 of their fee after payouts. I doubt I would spend $120 on physical CD's. But at $15/month, it's tolerable -- a bargain, if you ask me the enjoyment I get out of music versus the price. Yeah, if I couldn't jam all day at work it probably wouldn't be as worth it, but I'm old enough to remember life without streaming and it wasn't good for anyone. I feel good about my contributions. Plus, any concerts I go to and merchandise I buy. I'll still buy a band's album via Bandcamp every now and then for more direct support.