Nick Vernon, Campus Carrier Graphics Editor & Online Editor
The music industry is not as cut and dry as the days of vinyl records or CDs. Today, artists struggle to bring in money as millions of people stream their content free of charge to the consumer. Some artists have started to limit the digital release of their music.
Adele did not allow any streaming of her latest album, “25.” Kanye West’s most recent album, “The Life of Pablo,” was available exclusively for streaming on Tidal, a paid music source like Spotify.
Other artists, such as Chancelor Bennett, who releases music under the name Chance the Rapper and was featured on the aforementioned West album, release their music for free.
This is increasingly becoming the norm for up-and-coming artists. Bennett hasn’t released a single song for profit. So far, the young hip hop artist from Chicago has released two mixtapes and one collaborative album, all for free. The reasoning is simple — getting your name out there and building up a fan base is more important than bringing in money right away.
Bennett’s patience seems to be paying off. The rapper appears to be teetering on a breakout thanks in part to increased recognition from his appearance on “The Life of Pablo.” Other artists, such as Kendrick Lamar, who notably swept the Grammy Awards in rap this year, followed a similar route as Bennett. The long-term goal is to become so popular that album sales are not the primary revenue stream. However, with the popularity Lamar and West have achieved, streaming services like Tidal or Spotify are willing to pay the big bucks to feature specific artists, especially if it’s an exclusive contract.
As consumers, we should be aware of the current state of the music industry. Today, the leak date for an album (when it is available for illegal download) is more important than the actual release date. The Internet has caused people to ask the question: why buy music? In light of this sentiment, new artists, like Bennett, understand that their fans grew up in this era of torrenting. Rather than combating this, Bennett and others are embracing it.
The music is the medium to make connections with listeners. Selling merchandise and tickets, and increasing popularity is where the money is made. While many fans and artists complain and struggle to fix the music industry, it seems artists like Bennett have it figured out. Bennett is a pioneer in this way, and other upcoming artists will likely follow in his path, releasing their music for free.
As consumers, rather than getting upset with the state of the industry, we should accept it. Artists will always be rewarded for their creativity, even if they are not making the most of their money off of album sales. So think twice before paying that $10 a month to access all of that “exclusive” music on Tidal, and don’t feel guilty about listening to your favorite artists’ music for free.