Does the U.S. "play it safe" with music more than other countries.

[TheBigA]

But -- played or not -- the artists/producers/companies still got that $15.

Split a lot of different ways. It costs money to make a CD and a jewel box and a cover pamphlet, wrap it in plastic, ship it in trucks to stores, stock them in stores, and sell them to people. Every step along the way costs money. More than $10 of that $15 went to making, shipping, and selling the CD. That entire chain has been eliminated. All that's left is the music. And instead of paying once and owning that music forever, you pay every time you listen. That's how songs reach billions of plays. No album at $15 ever sold a billion. But today it's pretty common, and it happens fairly quickly.

 

[Harvey_Dogg]

You listen to a song on my station's stream. I pay instead of you. If I listen to a song on YouTube? They pay and for me it's free..

 

[TheBigA]

If I listen to a song on YouTube? They pay and for me it's free..

YouTube is an ad-supported platform. So if you listen to music on YouTube, advertisers pay.

It's different from radio because it's national and not limited by format.

 

[CTListener]

I think it's "Bye Bye Blues" but I almost said "Wonderland by Night".

You want to hear a flat trumpet, listen to Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" or Robert Knight's "Everlasting Love."

 

[CTListener]

I can go exploring on the internet and discover NEW MUSIC without having to buy the album first before I try it. That's what I love about finding music online.

There's no such thing as playing it safe on the internet. The reason radio plays it safe is because radio broadcasting is expensive and many have lost their shirt in the business. You don't want to join them.

But TheBigA suggests that with a few more royalty fee increases, the small players will be forced to exit the streaming game, and all the larger ones (including YouTube and Spotify) will start charging everyone, with no free, ad-supported options. Where does the "I want it all for free" music consumer turn then? Offshore streaming sites in countries that don't care and don't extradite, which is how illegal sports streaming survives and thrives? Listen only to music heard before the big freeze? Or just take whatever FM can offer and complain daily about it here?

 

[vchimpanzee]

You want to hear a flat trumpet, listen to Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman"

Never had a problem with that. I have a problem with Michael Bolton's version.

 

[boombox4]

Split a lot of different ways. It costs money to make a CD and a jewel box and a cover pamphlet, wrap it in plastic, ship it in trucks to stores, stock them in stores, and sell them to people. Every step along the way costs money. More than $10 of that $15 went to making, shipping, and selling the CD. That entire chain has been eliminated. All that's left is the music. And instead of paying once and owning that music forever, you pay every time you listen. That's how songs reach billions of plays. No album at $15 ever sold a billion. But today it's pretty common, and it happens fairly quickly.

OK, but out of all the songs out there, how many reach a billion plays? According to the latest data I could find (2019) only six artists had tracks out there that have streamed more than a billion times. Most of the artists don't see that sort of success. The number of tracks that had a billion plays amounted to 25 total. Of course, that was three years ago. Let's supposed it's doubled in the three years since then. That would be 50 tracks out of probably 10 million on streaming sites, and 12 artists out of several million.

You stated previously here on RD that when survey companies survey what is played on people's playlists, mostly it's the same popular currents, recurrents and gold that gets played on radio. Once the new release isn't so new, it dives in popularity on the streaming sites, with some few exceptions, like Queen or other superstars. And once the new release fades in popularity, the revenues drop.

And if the streaming model brings in so much more money, why are artists screaming for higher royalties?

Obviously, we have different views of the benefits vs. liabilities of the new streaming model. You undoubtedly have connections to the industry that I don't have, so you may indeed be correct in all of this. I think in 5 years we will all know how it shakes out, not just for radio, but for the streaming sites, and your average working mid-level artist just trying to make a buck.

Royalties might indeed go up. Streaming sites may fail because of it. Those consumers who can't afford the streaming subscriptions may do without. They may trade MP3s again. People right now are doing without a lot because of the economy. People cut the cable. People have cut back on video streaming sites like Netflix. In five years, we'll see how it affects the industry.

Radio will probably survive. As we all know, outside of satellite, it has no subscription fee. And it has a long history of providing what the masses want to hear.

 

[boombox4]

But TheBigA suggests that with a few more royalty fee increases, the small players will be forced to exit the streaming game, and all the larger ones (including YouTube and Spotify) will start charging everyone, with no free, ad-supported options. Where does the "I want it all for free" music consumer turn then? Offshore streaming sites in countries that don't care and don't extradite, which is how illegal sports streaming survives and thrives? Listen only to music heard before the big freeze? Or just take whatever FM can offer and complain daily about it here?

People will still have radio, be it OTA or online. And people will pirate MP3's. There are ways to record audio from a clip. I don't see pirating going away completely. In the book world, they still pirate books, for example. I'm not condoning it, but it's out there, it happens, it's one of the reasons ITunes charged a buck a tune, bypassing the $3-$5 CD single and more expensive CD album. It originally was to combat piracy.

 

[TheBigA]

OK, but out of all the songs out there, how many reach a billion plays? According to the latest data I could find (2019) only six artists had tracks out there that have streamed more than a billion times. Most of the artists don't see that sort of success.

Most albums didn't go multi-platinum either.

And once the new release fades in popularity, the revenues drop.

Correct, but same with sales royalties. Digital royalties will continue to pay even after artists retire.

And if the streaming model brings in so much more money, why are artists screaming for higher royalties?

Streaming brings in more money over the long term. And for artists who get billions of streams. They're not the ones complaining.

Royalties might indeed go up. Streaming sites may fail because of it. Those consumers who can't afford the streaming subscriptions may do without.

What is happening is exactly what the music industry said it was trying to prevent: The big streaming sites are getting bigger, and the small ones are going out of business. The industry complains a lot about Apple, You Tube, and iHeart, but they're the only ones who can afford the rates.

 

[Kent]

Streaming brings in more money over the long term. And for artists who get billions of streams. They're not the ones complaining.

I don’t know about that. At least when it comes to radio, some of the ones clamoring for a royalty made millions. No one thinks they're paid enough.

 

[boombox4]

Most albums didn't go multi-platinum either.

One could argue that they didn't have to go multi-platinum. AC/DC's first 1976 US album sold poorly, maybe 50,000 copies. But it still made Atlantic Records some money. Because it was inexpensive to record, and promotion was minimal. It also got zero airplay in 1976, the year it was released.

And it still made them money 20 years later, through sales.

And, of course, the songs are still making them money now, via streaming royalties. That's also true.

 

[Radio-Bored-Op]

It also could be your ears.
When the same tired CALLS, - city of license and frequency drops and ... "the same old, playing it safe radio edit" kicks off the 15 song no repeat workday, you already feel worn out...

Same EXACT song.
"The All new, --•- FM is putting the RAD in RAD-io and you're here for the journey..."
song starts, it simply sounds better.

Until the " all new " station is still 'new'
on the 5th anniversary of being new.

 

[Radio-Bored-Op]

Yes, many of those under forty have left radio and get their music off Youtube and other online sources.

How many kids do you see with a Walkman or boombox today?

Depends where you look