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How streaming is changing the music industry

by Shashank Srivastava, Kevin Downs
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    4 minute read 10 June 2020

    How streaming is changing the music industry As COVID-19 halts live events, music streaming platforms innovate

    4 minute read 11 June 2020
    • Shashank Srivastava India
    • Kevin Downs United States
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    Heading into 2020, streaming was driving the music industry toward a new high. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which canceled tours, concerts, and album releases. Can streaming platforms help the industry weather the storm?

    Since 2015, streaming services have fueled a turnaround for the US music industry. Their role has become even more crucial in the current crisis

    Earlier this year, the recorded-music industry appeared to be on track to recover from a long slump, thanks to the emergence of music streaming. From 2015 to 2019, overall recorded music revenues, driven largely by streaming, posted a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%, reaching US$11.1 billion in annual revenue (see figure). In 2019, by far the industry’s best year in a decade, streaming accounted for 80% of revenues.1

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    More people were listening on speakers and through earbuds—and they went to shows as well: The US live music and concert industry also experienced strong growth in 2019, with trends on track for another great year in 2020.2 And then COVID-19 struck, postponing or canceling music events and concerts large and small, wreaking a devastating financial impact.3 The concert industry could lose an estimated US$9 billion if COVID-19 quarantines are not lifted by the end of 2020.4

    Suddenly, streaming platforms now shoulder an additional responsibility: With earnings from live music and concerts mostly shrunk to tips from webcasts,5 artists are increasingly relying on income from streaming platforms.

    Over the past several years, artists have been increasingly vocal about not receiving fair compensation from certain music streaming platforms.6 Now, some platforms are making amends and offering direct or indirect financial assistance to support the music community during these trying times. Spotify has launched a feature that allows artists to fundraise through their Spotify profiles,7 while YouTube’s “Stay Home #WithMe” campaign enables artists to post and stream their content to fans from home. In addition to its ad-supported monetization for artists, YouTube is letting fans donate directly to the creators.8

    Some music platforms are innovating by hosting virtual concerts for artists.9 While it may be impossible to re-create the concert experience in a living room, many digital platforms are bringing artists closer to fans. Tidal, for example, is offering consumers free access to virtual concerts as part of its “At Home with Tidal” program.10 New competitors are getting into the space as well: Instagram has emerged as a popular platform among artists, with some live performances garnering more than 100,000 live views;11 Travis Scott’s free virtual concert inside Epic Games’ Fortnite attracted a staggering 12 million viewers.12

    Streaming platforms have witnessed increased social engagement, subscriptions, and artist activity through their COVID-19 innovations. Will they be able to continue engaging fans not just during virtual concerts but before and after them? Can virtual concerts and social performances help artists recoup at least some of their lost tour revenue? And can streaming platforms grow their own revenues while enabling these features for the music community?

    The answers to these questions may lie in streaming platforms’ ability to innovate, continue hosting popular virtual events, increase consumer engagement and loyalty, and efficiently monetize their offerings. Streaming players have successfully done that to an extent during the current crisis. The learnings from this crisis will likely help them scale up further and play a significant role in the growth of music industry going forward.

    Acknowledgments

    Cover image by: Viktor Koen

    Endnotes
      1. Deloitte analysis based on data from “U.S. Sales Database,” the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); “CD” includes CDs and CD singles; “digital downloads” include downloaded albums, downloaded singles, ringtones and ringbacks, downloaded music videos, and other digital; “streaming” includes paid subscriptions, on-demand streaming (ad-supported), other ad-supported streaming, exchange distributions, and limited-tier paid subscriptions; “other formats” include LP/EP, vinyl singles, 8-track, cassettes, other tapes, SACD, DVD audio, music videos (physical), kiosk, and synchronization. View in article

      2. Anne Steele, “Coronavirus silences the concert industry,” Wall Street Journal, March 28, 2020. View in article

      3. Billboard staff, “Here are all the major music events canceled due to coronavirus,” Billboard, May 15, 2020. View in article

      4. Jem Aswad, “Concert industry could lose up to $9 billion in ticket sales this year, study shows,” Variety, April 3, 2020. View in article

      5. Dave Ruch, “Performing online: A new income stream (or two),” March 16, 2020. View in article

      6. Shawn Reynaldo, “How producers can get paid through streaming services,” DJ Mag, September 18, 2019; Tim Ingham, “Streaming platforms are keeping more money from artists than ever (and paying them more, too),” Rolling Stone, April 9, 2019. View in article

      7. Stuart Dredge, “Spotify coronavirus response includes letting artists add fundraising links to their profiles,” Music Ally, March 25, 2020. View in article

      8. Dan Rys, “Here’s how streaming services are supporting the music community during the coronavirus crisis,” Billboard, March 20, 2020. View in article

      9. Billboard, “Here are all the livestreams & virtual concerts to watch during coronavirus crisis,” May 18, 2020. View in article

      10. Ibid. View in article

      11. Jon Caramanica, “How hip-hop royalty found a new home on Instagram Live,” New York Times, May 7, 2020. View in article

      12. Samson Amore, “Travis Scott’s ‘Fortnite’ concert attracts record 12 million viewers,” Wrap, April 24, 2020. View in article

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    Shashank Srivastava

    Shashank Srivastava

    Manager | Deloitte

    Shashank Srivastava is a manager with Deloitte Services India Pvt. Ltd., affiliated with Deloitte’s Center for Technology, Media & Telecommunications. He has over ten years’ experience in strategy, insights, analytics, and advisory in the technology, media, and telecommunications industry.

    • shassrivastava@DELOITTE.com
    • +1 615 718 9800
    Kevin Downs

    Kevin Downs

    Senior Manager

    Kevin is a senior manager in Deloitte Services LP and the sector specialist for the US Media & Entertainment sector. He has more than 20 years of systems, operations, and management consulting experience implementing business-driven technology transformation and digital modernization programs for clients in technology, media, and telecommunications, and the public sector.

    • kdowns@deloitte.com
    • +1 571 814 7324

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