What does Apple Music mean for musicians?

With the arrival of Apple's new streaming service, 'Apple Music', the music industry looks set for yet another massive shake-up. Here are some potential consequences of its arrival for bands and artists...

/ Pulsar Editor's note - A synthesis of the original post is presented here to include our vision you may find in our free services. For the full and more precise article, please follow the link at the bottom. /

1. MUSIC BLOGGERS JUST BECAME MORE IMPORTANT

... we may well soon reach the point where streaming become a much more popular way to listen to music (in all probability the de facto way).

But if an online review contains a link at the bottom to the whole album ... we could take bloggers more seriously than ever before ...

2. IT’S GOING TO BE HARDER TO COLLECT FANS’ EMAIL ADDRESSES

... You’re going to have to be more creative about what you offer people in exchange for their email addresses.

3. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND A NEW SOCIAL NETWORK

As if having to be constantly witty on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and so on wasn’t enough hard work, you’re now going to have to engage fans via Apple Connect ...

/ Pulsar Editor's note - What is not said here is that entering that game would imprison the Artist in the Apple streaming world, maximizing the potential to loose real sales opportunites. And this is our focus point. /

4. MUSICIANS MAY HAVE LESS TIME TO WRITE AND RECORD SONGS…

So far, all indications point to Apple Music managing to both kill CD and download sales whilst providing minuscule financial remuneration to artists ... Bands are going to have to tour more regularly to make any dosh ...

5. …BUT THE SONGS THEY WRITE MAY BE INFLUENCED BY WAY MORE ARTISTS

A lot of musicians I know decry music streaming – yet subscribe to a streaming service at the same time. ... making it even more post-post-post-postmodern than it already is.

6. YOU’LL HAVE MORE DATA TO PLAY WITH

What you do with this data is, of course, up to you ...

/ Pulsar Editor's note - We have more clear suggestions for you about it, so stay in touch. /

7. IT MAY MEAN THAT BANDS START TO GET SLIGHTLY MORE CASH FROM STREAMING

We’re still talking fractions of pences per play. Streaming in itself does not look like making musicians rich anytime soon.

/ Pulsar Editor's note - Ones again, this is our focus point. /

8. SHOULD YOU PUT YOUR SONGS ON APPLE MUSIC?

... but whether you want to go the whole hog and make a new album release immediately available on Apple Music will involve weighing up a set of pros and cons and looking at your specific audience carefully. If you are an indie band with a history of ‘surefire’ sales to fans that you can communicate directly with ...

9. SO IS THERE ANY GOOD NEWS FOR MUSICIANS IN ALL OF THIS?

The best thing about Apple Music for musicians is the 'conversion' factor: it brings with it the potential to turn the person who might casually hear - and like - a song on the radio or at a friend's house into somebody who engages with your music more regularly ... The difficult part, however, will be that your song will be 'just' one of millions on Apple Music (and will be perceived as such by listeners). ...

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#Apple #Sales #Social #iTunes #Market #Streaming #Discovery