What’s the Value of Music?
Inside Sleeve
Music is central to the rituals that define our lives—birthdays, weddings, celebrations, and even farewells. It moves us in immediate and instinctive ways, wired into our biology. While visual signals take time to process, sound demands our attention instantly.
We know music holds immense value, but is it reflected in how it’s remunerated?
I spoke with artists from Canada, Norway, and the Netherlands this week. Despite their different scenes, the struggles they described were the same. They pour resources into recording, visuals, and PR, only to rely on live shows for income. Post-COVID, with mega stadium tours dominating budgets, smaller gigs are harder to book. Yet, when they do play, fans tell them through tears how deeply their music resonates. There’s a gap—the true value of music online isn’t being captured.
Tuesday Trends
Rob Abelow summed it up perfectly in his Where Music’s Going newsletter, drawing insights from 35,000+ artists and industry builders. The verdict?
- Music has been devalued.
- Streaming doesn’t serve artists.
- Artists don’t know who their fans are.
Platforms built for mass convenience often leave artists behind. Algorithms favor what’s predictable, not what builds connection. The result? Artists struggle to make a living while fans miss out on deeper discovery and engagement.
But as Rob reminds us: Every problem is an opportunity. The music industry has reinvented itself before (remember the early 2000s?). The future lies in tools and platforms that value artists and fans—fostering meaningful connections and sustainable careers.
Check out Rob’s full take here: Music’s Biggest Problems
Random Reflections
Ever wonder how social media is shaping music’s journey? This visualization of the social media universe offers a fascinating snapshot:
Visualizing the World of Social Media Platforms
How big would BlueSky be in an updated version? And what might the next evolution of digital platforms mean for how music connects us?
Stay tuned,
Anna
