Five fascinating facts about the music industry

The music industry is one of the most exciting there is. From the days of the Eagles earning the first ever platinum album, to the birth of iTunes and music streaming, to the personalities of people like Eminem, Dr. Dre, Taylor Swift, and Bad Bunny. These are some of the largest names of our day, some of the biggest influencers of the generation, and some of the most popular artists to come out of the music industry in the last two decades or so. 

Perhaps it’s the personality of the artists themselves, and the experiences they live through, maybe it’s the excitement of performing in front of thousands and thousands of people, and what it’s like to live on tour, or maybe it’s just the person’s charisma itself that makes us so fascinated and enthralled with the music industry. 

Maybe still, it’s a combination of all those factors listed above, and a few more that went unlisted, too. No matter what type of music you listen to, or who your favorite all time artists are, all of us can appreciate a gripping, exciting, and fascinating tale from the music industry, which frankly, is chalk full of them. Here are just a few fascinating facts about the music industry.  

1. Artists Need Your 30 Seconds

Being a startup musician or aspiring artist has never been easier than today, thanks to technology. With extremely popular streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify dominating the music listening space, all an artist has to do to get their work in front of an audience is sign up with a music distribution service. 

Modern music distribution services commonly assist aspiring artists with the actual distribution of their music. This way, all the artist really has to focus on is making music that will garner listens and earn them some money. 

However, what many artists and listeners don’t know is that a song has to be streamed for at least 30 seconds for it to count toward that artist’s revenue. So listeners can do their favorite independent artists a favor and wait at least 30 seconds before hitting skip on a track that doesn’t fit the current mood. 

2. Digital Sales Account for 88%

88% of any markets’ sales coming from an individual source is an impressive feat. But when it comes to the modern music industry, this figure makes more sense. Considering the fact that over 1 trillion tracks are streamed on an annual basis around the globe, it’s no wonder that the majority of music sales can be accounted for through some sort of digital means. 

Even think about some of those superstar names that were listed above. Taylor Swift just recently enjoyed securing all top 10 spots of the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously which was a record breaking feat. 

Not long before that, Swift became the most streamed artist on Spotify. These feats alone should demonstrate the behemoth industry that music streaming is. 

3. Musicians add 40,000 Tracks to Spotify…Every Day

The modern day path for aspiring artists is at least somewhat more paved today than it has been in years past. This was already touched on briefly with the mention of music streaming services and music distribution services which help artists get their music in front of an audience. 

However, the ease of this path has created other issues. Namely, there has been a massive influx of new music from a seemingly infinite supply of new artists hitting the market. Releasing and promoting individual music has become so popular in fact, that musicians are adding over 40,000 tracks to Spotify on a daily basis. 

4. Album Warning Stickers are Voluntary

Entertainment industries have come under fire for not keeping the sensitivity of the youth in mind in years prior. This can best be seen with the way that movie ratings and video game ratings have evolved to more accurately reflect the emotional maturity required to view or play, respectively. 

Many mature albums and albums that highlight or feature mature topic matter feature a black-and-white parental advisory warning. However, it may be a surprise that these warnings, for music albums, are completely and totally voluntary. 

5. Vinyl’s Making a Come Back

In a society that prioritizes a fast paced culture, technological advancement and innovation, and minimalism, it might be surprising to hear that vinyl records are actually making a rather strong comeback. 

This is largely due to the sound quality that vinyl records are able to support and the collectors nostalgia that music lovers get from holding a physical album in their hands.

A few Last Words

The music industry is completely overflowing with wild stories of magnificent parties, incredibly charismatic characters, and a ton of fascinating facts. Hopefully this small list taught you something new.