CDs vs. Spotify: The spread of music
- Angela Ye
- Feb 3, 2023
- 2 min read
Angela Ye Loomis Chaffee '24
Alamy.
The evolution of the Internet has changed many aspects of life around us – like using Google maps, online shopping, reading digital newspapers, etc. But what about music? How have digital media and the internet influenced how we consume music?
Before the rise of the internet and digital media, music was spread and bought through vinyl records, CDs, the radio, among other methods. The use of physical objects to play music meant these records, CDs, and their players and speakers had to be produced and manufactured.
Once the internet began gaining traction worldwide, the music industry was also impacted. The internet allows digital music to be downloaded and shared online, sometimes even for free. As a result, streaming platforms like iTunes, Spotify, and Youtube Music have gone through their own evolutions. They make profits in various ways, often from consumers paying for specific tracks, listening to advertisements, and purchasing subscriptions. Each platform has even come up with its own methods to attract consumers. Take Spotify as an example. Spotify can develop curated playlists for individual users with the help of algorithms, increase engagement by connecting users to other user profiles and playlists, and even summarize the user’s music in their popular “Spotify Wrapped,” provided to individuals annually.
The rise of media in the music industry has also made it easier for smaller artists and Indie (independent) companies to be discovered, increasing their competitive advantage against large record labels. Tiktok and Youtube are two major platforms that grant every uploaded video the potential to spread rapidly across algorithms, allowing aspiring artists to promote their music and, at times, garner international viewership.
The Internet increases daily exposure to different genres and artists, whether mainstream or less popularized. It is inevitable that the rise of the online music industry led its trail of less favorable consequences: fewer CDs sold put smaller record businesses out of business; piracy became easier to commit. It is up to the user in making the most out of the music market’s digital age.
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