The End of Music: The Death of the Dream of Independent Musicians

By Matti Charlton

In 'The End of Music,' author Matti Charlton explores the transformative impact of digital platforms and the democratization of music production, distribution, and the music services sector. With an unflinching examination of the challenges faced by musicians and artists today, this eye-opening book delves into the overwhelming oversupply of mus

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matti Charlton
• Release date: Dec 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9781998332212

Matti Charlton

Matti Charlton is writer, designer and recording artist. They live in Toronto, Canada with their service dog, Quentin.Matti is autistic, queer and transgender and writes passionately about social issues and modern technology; most recently, with their book "Homelessness broke ChatGPT" casting a critical eye on the bias of the popular AI software. Matti has also written several children's books and young adult novels.Matti is an advocate for trans issues, mental health and poverty, especially homelessness and addiction.Matti's career has spanned a wide range of disciplines, from software development and art direction to fashion design, music production and writing. In 2023, they published their 12th album of electronic pop music, "Almost", and their first fiction novel "Dendrome".Matti created the first transgender-owned underwear company in the world, Retromatti Athletics, in 2014, manufacturing the entire line from their apartment in downtown Toronto. The company expanded to provide digital artwork to craft makers during COVID-19.Matti's website: https://matticharlton.com/On Facebook: https://facebook.com/matticharltonOn Instagram: https://instagram.com/retromattiMatti's books: https://books.matticharlton.com/Matti's music: https://spotify.matticharlton.com/Matti's online business: https://retromatti.com/

Book preview

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The End of Music

The death of the dream of the independent musician

by Matti Charlton

Dedicated to Ryan Beattie.

Copyright ©2023 Matti Charlton. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN (Paperback): 9781998332205

ISBN (eBook): 9781998332212

Imprint: The Telephasic Workshop

Contents

Introduction 9

Overview of the Music Industry Landscape 11

Introduction 11

The Democratization of Music Production and Distribution 11

Negligible Revenue per Stream 11

The Insurmountable Challenge of Deriving Substantial Income 13

DIY Culture and Market Oversaturation 13

Amplification of Competition and Challenges for Emerging Artists 13

Live Music Performances and the Pandemic 14

Challenges of Making a Living Through Live Performances 14

Musicians as Consumers and Unrealistic Expectations 14

Prominent Experts and Reputable Publications Underscore the Futility 15

Conclusion 16

The Democratization of Music Production and Distribution 17

1. Oversaturated Market 17

2. Digital Platforms: Boon or Bane? 18

3. The Value Paradox 18

4. Disparity and Diminishing Returns 18

The Paradox of Oversupply and Diluted Value 20

Digital Platforms and Streaming Models 25

Impact of Digital Platforms on Music Consumption 27

The Rise of Streaming Services 27

Negligible Revenue per Stream 27

The Dilution of Value 28

Centralization of Power 28

Impact on Physical Sales and Downloads 29

Negligible Revenue per Stream 31

The Insurmountable Challenge of Deriving Substantial Income 34

DIY Culture and Market Oversaturation 39

Ease of Access to Recording Equipment and Online Resources 41

Inundation of Independent Artists in the Market 44

Amplification of Competition and Challenges for Emerging Artists 47

Live Music and the Pandemic 51

Traditional Revenue Stream Severely Impacted by COVID-19 53

Heightened competition in the scarcity of gig opportunities 56

Challenges of making a living through live performances 60

Traditional revenue stream severely impacted by COVID-19 60

Heightened competition in the scarcity of gig opportunities 60

Challenges of making a living through live performances 62

Financial constraints 62

Inequitable payment structures 62

Costly touring logistics 62

Geographic limitations 63

Dependency on audience attendance 63

Mental and physical toll 63

Musicians as Consumers 65

Shift in consumer behavior within the musician community 67

Musicians as a Consumer Base for Career-Enhancing Services 71

Unrealistic Expectations and Challenges Surrounding ROI 74

1. The Dream versus the Reality 74

2. The Myth of Overnight Success 74

3. The Oversaturated Market 75

4. The Paltry Value of Streaming 75

5. The Influx of New Artists 75

6. The Decline of Live Performances 76

7. The Shift in Consumer Behavior 76

8. The Illusion of Success Stories 76

9. The Expert Consensus 77

10. The Need for Innovative Strategies 77

Conclusion 77

Expert Opinions and Consensus 79

Prominent experts emphasize the futility of pursuing substantial ROI 81

Reputable publications reiterate the implausibility of meaningful returns 84

Consistent evidence supporting the assertion of impossibility 87

From Difficult to Impossible 91

Unambiguous evidence substantiating the claim 93

Market Saturation, Evolving Revenue Models, and Musician Population 97

Market Saturation: Drowning in a Sea of Sound 97

Evolving Revenue Models: Dilution of Value 97

Musician Population: A Sea of Struggling Artists 98

The Rising Need for Innovation 99

In Conclusion 100

Traditional Approaches Rendered Entirely Unviable 101

Innovative Strategies 105

Necessity for New Approaches Beyond Conventional Music Services 107

1. Disruption and Transformation 107

2. Taking Control: DIY Ethic and Entrepreneurship 107

3. Diversified Revenue Streams 108

4. Collaborative and Shared Revenue Models 108

5. Leveraging Technology and AI 108

6. Building a Strong Online Presence 109

7. Education and Skill Expansion 109

8. Embracing Alternative Economies 109

Conclusion 110

The Call for Innovation in Navigating the Saturated Market 111

Transcending traditional confines for profitable navigation 114

Metrics and Proof 119

Open invitation for any independent and unbiased evidence 121

Request for Data that Contradicts the Insurmountable Challenge 124

Emphasis on the Need for Tangible Proof in the Current Market 128

The Myth of the Streaming Dream 128

The Oversaturation Crisis 129

The Harsh Reality of ROI 129

Expert Opinions 130

Conclusion 131

Conclusion 133

Recapitulation of the Overwhelming Evidence 135

The Urgent Need for Innovative Strategies 138

A Call to Action for Musicians to Adapt 142

Introduction

Overview of the Music Industry Landscape

Introduction

In this chapter, we delve into the stark reality of the music industry and its seemingly insurmountable challenges. The evidence overwhelmingly points to the impossibility of obtaining a meaningful return on investment (ROI) in the realm of music services aimed at musicians. The landscape is entrenched in saturation, continuously compounded by an influx of new artists and content. Get ready to be shocked as we unveil the untold truth and expose the harsh realities of the music industry.

The Democratization of Music Production and Distribution

The advent of digital platforms and affordable recording technologies has democratized music production and distribution like never before. While this has opened doors for aspiring musicians to showcase their talent, it has also created an oversupply of music across various platforms. In 2019 alone, over 80,000 new tracks were uploaded to Spotify every day, amounting to more than 30 million songs throughout the year. This staggering number highlights the overwhelming competition faced by musicians in an oversaturated market.

Negligible Revenue per Stream

Streaming platforms have become the prevalent means of music consumption in today’s digital age. However, the revenue generated per stream is shockingly low. The popular streaming service Spotify, for instance, pays artists an average of $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, which is significantly lower than the $0.009 to $0.015 range it paid in 2014. This decline in revenue per stream exacerbates the challenge of earning a substantial income from streaming alone.

The Insurmountable Challenge of Deriving Substantial Income

Considering the diluted revenue per stream and the oversupply of music on streaming platforms, it becomes clear that musicians face an insurmountable challenge in deriving substantial income from their musical endeavors. A study by the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) revealed that in 2019, streaming accounted for nearly 80% of the recorded music industry’s revenue, while artists and songwriters received only a fraction of that revenue.

DIY Culture and Market Oversaturation

The ease of access to recording equipment and online resources has fueled a DIY culture in the music industry. While this has empowered independent artists to create and release their own music, it has also contributed to market oversaturation. The sheer volume of artists in the market makes it exceptionally difficult for emerging talent to break through and gain recognition. In fact, on Spotify, only about 0.4% of artists earn over $50,000 per year, while the vast majority struggle to generate even a modest income.

Amplification of Competition and Challenges for Emerging Artists

The oversaturation of the music market amplifies competition and creates significant challenges for emerging artists. With millions of tracks available at the click of a button, gaining visibility and standing out from the crowd becomes an arduous task. The reality is that most artists will go largely unnoticed, buried beneath an avalanche of content.

Live Music Performances and the Pandemic

Traditionally, live performances have been a crucial revenue stream for musicians. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the live music industry to its knees. Concerts were canceled, festivals were postponed, and venues were shuttered. The entire ecosystem that allowed many artists to make a