The Impact of Streaming, on Music Discovery, and Listener Behavior

By: The BitMar Team.



The way in which we listen to music has drastically changed, over the past decade. Accessing, and discovering, new music has become easier than ever, since the rise of streaming services. Nevertheless, how has this shift to digital streaming impacted music discovery, and listener behavior? Let us take a closer look.

Music Discovery, on Streaming Platforms:

Streaming services – like: Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal – have revolutionized the way in which we discover music. These platforms have made discovering new artists, and genres, much easier for listeners; thanks to their personalized playlists, and algorithm-driven recommendations. According to a report, by Nielsen Music, 72% of music listeners, in the U.S. – aged 13, and older – use a streaming service for music discovery.

The Role of Playlists, in Music Discovery:

The ability to create, and share, playlists is one of the key features of streaming services. Playlists have become a major way for listeners to discover new music, as many curators create playlists around specific themes, and/or genres.

The Impact on Album Sales, and Chart Rankings:

Since the rise of streaming, there has been a shift in the way in which music sales are measured. In the past, album sales, and chart rankings, were the primary indicators of an artist's success. However, according to Billboard, these metrics have become less important. Streaming numbers now play a significant role in determining chart rankings.

Changes in Listener Behavior:

According to information, obtained from Music Business Worldwide, streaming has not only impacted the way in which we discover music; but on how we consume it, as well. With the ability to access millions of songs on-demand, listeners are no longer constrained by physical formats—like: CDs, and/or vinyl records. This has led to a rise in individual track consumption, as listeners are now more likely to create personalized playlists, and shuffle those songs—rather than listening to albums; from start, to finish.

The Future of Music Discovery:

As streaming continues to dominate the music industry, it is clear: that music discovery will continue to evolve. With the increasing use of machine-learning, and A.I., personalized recommendations will become even more accurate—helping listeners to discover new music that is tailored to their tastes. Additionally, the rise of Social Media, and user-generated content, could also play a major role in music discovery. Platforms – like: TikTok, and Instagram – are becoming popular ways for listeners to share, and discover, new music. Source: Rolling Stone.

In conclusion, streaming has had a profound impact on the way in which we discover, and consume, music. With the rise of personalized playlists, and algorithm-driven recommendations, music discovery has become easier – and more accessible – than ever before. While streaming has led to changes in listener behavior, and the way in which music success is measured, it has also opened up new opportunities for artists, and listeners.

Currently, next-generation streaming platforms – like: BitMar – may provide you the most affordable form of on-demand streaming entertainment. BitMar provides all-in-one streaming service, for life, for a one-time payment, of: $99.99 USD. It can connect you to millions of on-demand movies, TV shows, channels, videos, and songs (from many different sources on the Web), on the screens that you already own. In fact, BitMar provides access to more movies, and TV shows, than: Cable, Satellite, Netflix, Disney Plus, Max/HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Peacock, and Hulu – combined – and more songs, than: Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, and Apple Music—combined. You may learn more, at: BitMar.com.