It’s common to hear people from older generations claim that music is getting worse, that artists no longer have lasting impact, and that everything feels temporary.

However, these perspectives often overlook a critical reality: the music industry, like all facets of life, has evolved significantly with technological advancements, shifting cultural landscapes, and changing consumer behavior. These changes have redefined what it means to be an artist, how music is produced and consumed, and how the industry operates as a whole.

The journey from vinyl records to cassette tapes, CDs, MP3s, and now streaming on mobile devices has fundamentally altered the way we consume music. Each of these formats has its limitations and costs, but the most significant change lies in accessibility and convenience. In the past, owning music required a physical purchase, whether it was a vinyl record, a cassette tape, or a CD. Distributing these physical formats was an expensive endeavor, requiring substantial backing from a major record label to cover production and logistics costs.

Today, independent artists can distribute their music globally through digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, reaching audiences they never could have before. This democratization of distribution has allowed a wider range of voices to be heard, breaking down barriers that once kept many artists out of the mainstream.

For listeners, the shift to streaming has made music more accessible than ever before. We no longer need to save up for months to buy a single album; instead, we can access millions of songs instantly and for free, thanks to streaming services. This has fundamentally changed the relationship between artists and fans. While listeners now have more music at their fingertips than ever before, this abundance of choice has made it harder for artists to build a loyal fan base. In an era of infinite choice, capturing and maintaining the attention of listeners has become a major challenge.

The Power of Social Media and Streaming

Promotion in the music industry has also changed dramatically. Gone are the days when radio airplay or a feature in a music magazine were the primary ways to gain exposure. Today, a single TikTok video can propel a song to viral status, reaching thousands, if not millions, of people at no cost to the artist. Social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok have become essential tools for artists to connect with their audience, share their work, and build their brand.

This has led to increased competition in the music market, where only a few manage to stand out. Success now requires not only talent and hard work but also a dedicated team that understands the intricacies of digital marketing, social media algorithms, and content creation. The artists who succeed in this environment are those who can leverage these tools to create a strong, personal connection with their audience, making fans feel like they are part of the artist’s journey.

The rise of streaming has not only changed how we listen to music but also how artists earn a living. In the era of physical media, an artist’s income was largely dependent on album sales. Today, income is more closely tied to the number of streams a song or album receives. However, the revenue from streaming is notoriously low, with artists earning only fractions of a cent per stream. This has placed a premium on streaming numbers for financial sustainability, pushing artists to find ways to maximize their presence on streaming platforms.

But streaming isn’t the only revenue stream for artists in the digital age. New income sources have emerged, including social media sponsorships, direct donations through platforms like Patreon, virtual events, and merchandise sales. These new revenue streams have given artists more control over their income, allowing them to diversify their earnings and reduce their reliance on any one source.

Why Do Certain Genres Prevail?

The popularity of specific music genres is closely tied to generational tastes and societal concerns. For instance, during Argentina’s military dictatorship, national rock adapted by becoming more poetic to express dissent without triggering repression. In that era, music was a vehicle for protest, with lyrics that carried deep political and social meanings, even if they were veiled in metaphor to avoid censorship.

Today, we live in a world where censorship is less prevalent in the music industry, allowing artists to explore topics that were once considered taboo. Genres that resonate with current societal issues, such as hip-hop’s focus on social justice or pop’s exploration of mental health, often rise to prominence. The consumption of music is driven by what listeners find relevant to their lives, making the listener’s choice the ultimate determinant of what becomes popular.

This shift underscores the idea that no one genre is inherently better than another; instead, music’s value is determined by its connection to the listener’s experiences and the cultural moment. As society evolves, so too does the music that captures its spirit.

The Role of AI and the Future of Music

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another game-changer in music production, raising new questions about creativity, copyright, and intellectual property. AI can now generate music, analyze trends, and even assist in the creative process, posing both a challenge and an opportunity for artists. Some see AI as a new tool that can help artists push the boundaries of their creativity, while others view it as a potential competitor that could disrupt the traditional role of the human artist.

The integration of AI in music production has also led to ongoing debates about copyright law and ownership. If a song is created by an AI, who owns the rights? How do we define authorship in an age where machines can create? These questions are not only legal but also philosophical, touching on what it means to be an artist in the 21st century.