Blog: Music Industry

Read our latest daily deep dives, hot takes, and exciting updates about the entertainment world. Check out the latest insight from your favourite analyst, or search by coverage areas - music, entertainment and fandom, creator economy and social.

Are we reaching peak fandom?

Cover image for Are we reaching peak fandom?
Mark Mulligan
With streaming revenue growth slowing to 6.2% in 2024, the recorded music industry’s attention is firmly fixed on superfans as the ‘get out of jail free’ card. The growing sophistication of artist merch has reached the stage where fans can buy Taylor Swift fashion bags and shop her jewelry range , meanwhile all eyes are on the impending Spotify supremium tier (as reported by Bloomberg ).
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The music industry wants solutions. But do listeners see problems?

Cover image for The music industry wants solutions. But do listeners see problems?
Tatiana Cirisano
Key takeways from this blog: The music industry’s next phase of growth depends on solving real problems faced by multiple stakeholders – not just one group in isolation Areas like live music demand, fan engagement, and discovery offer clues about where meaningful overlaps might exist MIDiA spotlights potential solutions that could create value for artists, listeners, labels, and platforms alike History is full of examples of products that failed because they were "solutions without a problem”.
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Music is losing a generation of young men

Cover image for Music is losing a generation of young men
Kriss Thakrar
Key insights from this blog: Netflix’s hit Adolescence has renewed conversation around the radicalisation of young men, particularly in online spaces MIDiA’s research highlights that all entertainment is becoming increasingly gendered, with social media platforms displaying a growing gender gap amongst young users However, this issue also extends to music, with live music attendance amongst young men plummeting and their spending on video games overtaking music (including live) Over the past year, there has been increasing attention on the flailing state of young men in Western societies.
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Songwriters, we want to hear from you! Raise your voice in MIDiA’s new survey

Cover image for Songwriters, we want to hear from you! Raise your voice in MIDiA’s new survey
Tatiana Cirisano
Last year, MIDiA’s inaugural songwriter survey uncovered an alarming statistic: 67% of songwriters name “lack of meaningful streaming income” as their biggest challenge. More alarming yet is the fact that this remained the most common challenge for songwriters in our survey across income levels and tenure, even as other challenges – such as breaking through the noise – diminished.
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The music industry’s weakest link: Getting from A to B

Cover image for The music industry’s weakest link: Getting from A to B
Tatiana Cirisano
Key insights from this blog: The music industry is missing a key step when it comes to supporting and growing artists As the landscape of the industry has changed, most notably a loss of a mainstream monoculture, the traditional ways of discovery and promotion no longer work for new and smaller artists To combat this, the music industry must change its ways – including shifting towards a scenes-based strategy put forward by MIDiA “Super premium” streaming tiers, special-edition vinyl, and direct-to-fan revenue streams all have one thing in common – and no, it is not just that they are about monetising fandom.
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