So far, I’ve avoided signing up for any streaming music services. My fear is that once I do, I will cease collecting music which directly supports the artists that I love. Who needs to buy albums when you can just queue them up for pennies on the dollar?
Well.
It’s like paying for a monthly membership to a private club where you can tip the DJ to play anything in the world. Meanwhile, the bartender takes notes on what you’re requesting; sometimes, he’ll even suggest something for you to request and give you a discounted drink if you do. It could be the bartender’s cousin’s garage band for all you know, but you follow the suggestion. The DJ slips him a fiver for his work. And when the bouncer decides your money is no longer good, you’re out the door with nothing to listen to at home.
Musicians must have millions of streams to break even, and even then it’s…pennies on the dollar. And if your band has more than one person, then each member’s cut amounts to a slap in the face with a wet fish.
Until such a day as I get tired of maintaining a physical and electronic catalog, I’ll keep collecting. I just don’t want to open that floodgate.