From Newsweek · · 1m 20s
Streaming booms but local music pays the price
Streaming growth threatens local music scenes.
In brief
Streaming growth threatens local music scenes. Streaming platforms prioritize global scale over local culture, risking regional music scenes. Originally reported by Newsweek.
Music travels faster than ever
Music has never traveled farther or faster. A song created in a bedroom can reach listeners across continents within hours.
Global music revenue hits record
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, global recorded music revenue reached a record $31.7 billion in 2025, with streaming accounting for more than 69 percent of the total.
Local music thrives on community
Jazz was inseparable from New Orleans. Motown carried Detroit with it. Hip-hop emerged from communities in the Bronx. Grunge became identified with Seattle.
Streaming expands access but not discovery
Streaming has undeniably expanded opportunity with 837 million paid subscription accounts worldwide in 2025, but access and discovery are not the same thing.
Algorithms favor familiarity
When success is filtered through engagement metrics, the incentive shifts toward what performs at scale, creating cultural homogeneity.
Local scenes at risk
Local venues could weaken, emerging musicians could lose spaces to experiment, and regional scenes may struggle to develop enough momentum to become genuine movements.
Technology should support local culture
Major streaming platforms should dedicate at least 10 percent of their editorial discovery placements to locally curated emerging artists and publicly report those placements annually.
What matters most
Streaming platforms prioritize global scale over local culture, risking regional music scenes.
