Streaming has become the most popular way for people to access music, replacing physical CDs. While streaming is cheaper for consumers, it provides less revenue from music sales, which impacts artists and the music industry. However, artists may now tour more frequently to make up for lower sales. There is debate around whether the rise of streaming is positive or negative for the music industry, artists, and consumers.

1. Effects of Music Streaming
By: Xavier Bradley

2. The Issue
Streaming has become the most popular method for people
obtaining music. Streaming is a very lost cost way to pay for
music. Since people are streaming no one buys physical CD’s
anymore. Thus less money is being made from the selling of
music. However more artists are touring more frequently now.
The issue is economic, social, and personal to everyone who
listens to music.
The industry is being changed due to the popularity of
streaming; is this good or bad?
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3. Potential Questions
▪ What is streaming?
⬞ How many people stream?
⬞ How popular is streaming?
▪ Should Streaming costs be different?
▪ Should people buy more physical music?
▪ Are artists happy about the popularity of streaming?
▪ Are consumers happy about the popularity of streaming?
▪ Are record labels giving artists too little pay?
⬞ Is is better to be an indie artist or signed?
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4. Research Available
▪ Any website that discusses stats and facts about streaming
▪ Any major music article (Time, Billboard, etc.)
▪ Greenfile Research Database (on Rowan.edu under library
services and E-Resources)
▪ Artist and music business personel interviews
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5. Specific Sources
▪ http://www.ifpi.org/facts-and-stats.php
▪ Comparison of on-demand music streaming services.
WIkipedia
▪ Sinclair, G., & Tinson, J. (2017). Psychological ownership and
music streaming consumption. Journal of Business Research,
71, 1-9. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.10.002
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6. Potential Challenges
▪ This topic involves lots of statistical data that no one has the
exact information for because it is always changing, thus it
will be hard to find completely reliable data.
▪ There will be arguments for both sides so it will be difficult to
find out if one side is truly better than the other.
▪ This topic involves a lot of very strong opinions by many
people, much of which is ideological, emotional, and not
necessarily fact based.
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7. Why is the Issue Relevant?
▪ Everyone listens to music
▪ Refers to a multi-billion dollar industry
▪ Streaming has become extremely popular in the past 3 years
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