How Streaming Services Have Changed Music

Streaming services have changed the way music is consumed. Whether you like it or not, they’re making a huge impact on the way we listen to and write songs. Martin Connor of Rap Analysis explores the various ways these changes are affecting the way we write and perform songs.

Songs Simpler Because of Data Collection

Before streaming services, albums used to be built like movies. However, the data collected by labels is now changing how they make songs. Many artists are now following the lead of Lil Uzi's "The Way Life Go." This song starts with a quick beat before moving into the chorus, and it ends with a very last beat. This is a great way to quickly introduce listeners to the new song and ensure that they’ll be able to fast-forward through it.

Confessional Songs Influenced by Social Media

The way artists interact with their fans on social media has a huge impact on how they perform. Take a look at Kanye West's "I Thought About Killing You" album. In the first half, he doesn't speak in time to the beat, and it feels like he's just thinking about the song instead.

Shorter Songs Due to Smaller Streaming Profits

Unlike CDs and tour tickets, streaming services pay artists far less. For instance, Lil Uzi Vert made around $.005 for every billion streams of his song "XO Tour Llif3." Due to the small profits that streaming services make, musicians are less likely to release longer songs. For instance, the song "Gucci Gang" from Lil Pump's 2017 album only clocks in at around two minutes.

Songs are Built-To-Order

The rise of streaming services has changed the way music is consumed. They're allowing listeners to change the order of songs, as well as the lyrics. Some artists are even creating albums that leave their listeners with their own decisions. Kanye West's 2016 album "The Life of Pablo" features tracks that are full of instrumentals, alternative versions and silence. This blank canvas allows him to create an art piece for his fans.

Diversity Due to Digitization

Before the internet, artists had to target a specific demographic to reach their potential audience. With the rise of streaming services, they can now reach audiences across different demographics. One of the biggest advantages of releasing multiple genres at once is that it allows artists to create songs that are both original and diverse. For instance, Lil Nas X's 2019 hit "Old Town Road" combines elements of R&B, hip-hop and country. 

About Jon Heindel

Jon Heindel is the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Information Officer, and the Chief Technology Officer of Southern California companies, Heindel, Inc, and Dirbos, Inc. With over two decades of experience in technology under his belt, Jon is a seasoned veteran in the industry. His extensive resume includes brands such as Dakine, Huf Worldwide, Lib Tech, Billabong, Gotcha Sportswear, and Z. Cavaricci. To Jon, the technology industry has a number of educational opportunities to learn things from challenges that he faces daily.

Jon grew up wanting to be a musician, and worked incredibly hard to do, even creating a band and playing a number of gigs up and down the Sunset Strip. However, as he grew older, he realized the importance that technology had on the music industry as a whole.

Most recently, Jon Heindel has created his two companies, Heindel, Inc, and Dirbos, Inc. Dirbos, Inc's mission is to help cultivate client's ideas with the help of technology. Jon knows that the tech industry is ever changing, so the thing that sets him apart from the crowd is that he understands when to ask help. He not only uses in-house experts, but he also uses his network of connections that aid him in creating solutions to problems every day. To learn more about Jon Heindel and his unique hobbies, be sure to check out his blogs.