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The Death of Streaming: How Pennies Killed the Musical Star

Bobby Dangero Design

Remember when you’d save up your allowance for that one special album? When owning music felt like joining an exclusive club? Well, welcome to 2025, where your $10 monthly subscription gets you access to (almost) all the music ever made. Sounds like paradise, right?

Plot twist: It’s killing music as we know it.

The Math of Musical Poverty: 2025 Edition

Here’s a fun game: Guess how many streams it takes for an artist to buy a slice of pizza in Boston?

Drumroll please…

At $0.004 per stream (that’s Spotify’s average payout), you’d need about 625 streams to buy one slice at your local pizzeria. That’s like playing your favorite song on repeat during an entire work shift just so the artist can grab lunch.

Want to get really depressed? Let’s talk rent:

  • Average Boston rent: $2,800/month
  • Streams needed to pay that rent: 700,000
  • Percentage of artists who get that many streams: Less than 1%

And here’s the kicker: While streaming revenue is projected to hit $76.9 billion by 2029, artists are seeing pennies on the dollar. It’s like watching your landlord build a swimming pool with your rent money while your ceiling’s still leaking.

“But Artists Make Money from Tours, Right?”

Ah yes, the classic “just tour more” argument. Let’s break down a typical indie band’s tour expenses:

  • Gas for the van: $$$ (and we all know how that’s going in 2025)
  • Hotel rooms: $$$$ (blame those post-pandemic price hikes)
  • Equipment maintenance: $$$
  • Mental health after living on gas station food: Priceless

Meanwhile, their music is being streamed thousands of times back home, earning them enough for maybe one tank of gas. It’s like working a full-time job but getting paid in high-fives.

The Great Streaming Illusion

Fun fact: While the streaming market is expected to grow from $33.23 billion in 2024 to $37.18 billion in 2025, most artists are seeing their per-stream rates go down. It’s like watching your piece of pie shrink while everyone talks about how big the bakery is getting.

The Rise of the Superfans (They’re Real, and They’re Spectacular)

Here’s where things get interesting. Did you know that superfans contribute $4.2 billion to the music industry? That’s right – while streaming services fight over pennies, superfans are out here making it rain. These dedicated listeners:

  • Make up just 2% of monthly listeners
  • Account for 18% of monthly streams
  • Spend 80% more on music monthly
  • Are twice as likely to buy physical formats

How to Be Part of the Solution (Without Breaking the Bank)

The 20/20 Rule: If you stream an album more than 20 times, buy it. Your future self will thank you when the internet crashes.

Become a Music Patron: Pick three local artists and actually support them. With platforms like Bandcamp, you can make sure more of your money goes directly to the artist.

Spread the Word: Next time you share a Spotify link, add a Bandcamp link too. It’s like giving your friend directions but also telling them about the better route.

The Future Isn’t All Doom and Gloom

The industry is evolving, with some promising developments:

  • New regulations protecting creators and listeners
  • Fairer pay across borders
  • More engaging music ecosystems benefiting all stakeholders
  • AI-powered personalization that actually helps artists reach their true fans
  • Blockchain-based ownership models giving artists more control

The Last Note

Here’s the truth: The streaming model isn’t just dying – it’s transforming. While the big platforms duke it out over market share (projected to hit $67.87 billion by 2029), artists and fans are building something new. Something better.

For example, right here in Boston, spaces like The Record Co. are creating affordable recording options and building real community connections. It’s a reminder that music is more than just ones and zeros flowing through the internet – it’s about people, passion, and genuine connections.

So next time you hit play on that Spotify playlist, ask yourself: Am I just streaming, or am I really supporting? Because in this brave new world of music, the difference matters more than ever.

P.S. Want to really blow your mind? Calculate how many streams it would take your favorite artist to buy a house in Boston. Actually, don’t – that kind of math should come with a warning label.


Data sources include industry reports from IFPI, MIDiA Research, and Goldman Sachs Music In The Air report (2024)

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