What's up with streaming services?

As we all cope with the state’s stay at home order, many believed that more of us would turn to streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, or even Pandora to soothe our frayed nerves with music, but that’s not the case. In fact, studies show that the use of music streaming apps decreased by about 8% overall while online radio listening saw an increase of close to 15%.

So, what is going on here?

The most obvious reason is that the public turns to radio in times of crisis. We need news and analysis along with music and entertainment, or maybe the uptick just means we’re seeking companionship even in our music. Still, there’s probably more to it than that. 

Fewer people are commuting to work or going to the gym. Restaurants, bars, and stores who use Spotify for their in-store music are closing their doors. People who stream music in their offices are turning off and watching Netflix or Disney Plus instead, or they’re turning their online attention to children’s educational websites, politics, gardening, and even baking. 

For those who did turn to streaming, it’s not pop, rap, R&B, or Latin they’re listening to. In fact, new music dropped 14.5% overall. Only three genres saw increases in streams with children’s music leading the pack at nearly 4% increase, followed by folk and classical at 3% and 1.5%, respectively, indicating how the demographic and focus has changed.

With the live music industry at a standstill, artists will inevitably rely more and more on streaming to get by. Streaming royalties are, theoretically, calculated from a fixed percentage of the total subscriber income, so a drop in streaming shouldn’t mean less money for musicians. Time will tell if this holds true.