Do you ever stop to think about how frequently you stream music on a daily basis? Between the time spent studying for a test, crafting a setlist for this weekend’s rager and stretching it out at the gym after class, that’s plenty of streaming opportunity.
On average, Americans spend just over 32 hours a week listening to music, according to a Nielsen study. That’s a lot of streaming power!
If you’ve just come to a realization, it’s OK. You’re not the only one who’s hooked on streaming.
Wait… how many of us stream music?
A reported 183 million Americans over the age of 13 stream music. That’s 77 percent of the U.S. internet-using population, and a 14 percent increase since the same time last year, according to the MusicWatch study.
You may not know that when it comes to streaming services, YouTube is No. 1. The same study reported that Spotify and Pandora rank next, with Apple and Amazon following behind. If we’re talking subscribers to each streaming service, Spotify is top dog, followed by Apple Music and Amazon, with Pandora trailing behind.
How streaming has changed music consumption
Today, streaming has easily become the most popular form of music consumption. It dominates its has-been counterparts like radio, CDs and vinyl. This is great news for the music industry as a whole, since streaming now accounts for 80 percent of all revenue generated in the industry.
But… why should you care about any of this?
Because streaming has changed the way we as fans discover and share new music, in the following ways:
1. Streaming makes sharing music so much easier
Do you remember how many hours went into crafting the perfect mixtape or CD for that special someone? Gen Z will never know the pains previous generations went through to produce a gift for a crush in the form of a physical CD. Just try sliding into someone’s DMs with a mixtape.
Nowadays, you can create a digital playlist on Spotify in approximately 30 seconds, click the “share” button, send it to whomever your heart desires and boom! You’ve got yourself a date to prom.
2. Accessibility is everything
Streaming also makes access to music so much easier. It’s the most practical and portable way to consume music in 2019.
Gone are the days of cruising to your local record store as soon as a new album drops to grab a physical copy. With streaming, as soon as the clock strikes midnight, you’ve got the ability to instantly access that brand-spankin’ new album without so much as putting on pants.
3. The never ending supply
Then there’s the simple fact that there’s just so much music on streaming platforms. With nearly 40,000 new tracks added to the Spotify platform daily, that makes for an incredibly vast library of music discovery.
Sure, the sheer number of options available to you might seem overwhelming to the point of decision fatigue, but the point is, you have unlimited choices when it comes to what you listen to!
We’re obviously music fanatics here at FanLabel, which means we’re streaming constantly, from the time we wake up in the morning to the time we doze off at night (sometimes with earbuds still intact). We’re pleased to learn that so many of our fellow Americans are also hooked on streaming.
Take the power of the music industry into your own hands and discover your favorite new artist through the FanLabel app. Download and play today!
