Music News

TONS of People Still Won’t Pay for Music

No, this isn’t another story about piracy and illegal downloading. It has to do with the millions of people who refuse to pay for music in the era of streaming music services. Business Insider published this chart showing the gap between paying subscribers on Spotify and those who are happy to use the ad-supported free tier.

spotify subs

A couple of other stats:

  • About two-thirds of adults on the Internet stream music at least once a month.
  • Less than one in ten digital consumers pay for their music.

Read the whole report here.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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2 thoughts on “TONS of People Still Won’t Pay for Music

  • I grew up listening to truly great music on the radio and never paid for it.

    Reply
  • Dave, me too, but advertisers paid for what you heard on radio (or citizens through taxes in the case of the CBC). Musicians deserve to be paid for their work, just like you and me. If I like it and want to play it anytime I want, I buy it.

    Reply

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