Technology's Impact On The Music Industry

Technological changes have had the farthest-reaching impact on the music industry, revolutionising the ways in which music is created, promoted and distributed. Before the Internet came to fruition the major labels solely controlled the industry and the ways music reached consumers. Due to the increased digitalisation of the industry, peer-to-peer sharing, streaming, digital sales and piracy have become the norm. Thus, the music industry has been both positively and adversely impacted by these technological changes.

Anyone with access to the Internet can listen to and create music. The rapid growth of the Internet has allowed the industry to become more accessible, breaking the confines of international borders. Artists now have the tools to find a global audience without the help and backing of a major label, with it no longer necessary to have an investment in expensive equipment for content to be created and shared. In turn, music fans have access to music from all over the world almost instantaneously, with musicians having the leverage of the Internet to create, produce and share their music.

Now, millions of songs are ‘streamed’ on the go at a fee per month. These services have changed the listening and distribution method of the industry. For example, in 2014 the music industry’s global digital revenues increased by 6.9% and for the first time ever the industry derived the same proportion of revenues from digital channels (46%) as physical format sales (46%). Thus, the digital landscape is becoming an advantageous movement in the progression of the industry and its