Music in the Age of Streaming
By Alex Lloyd
Music consumption in the era of streaming- extreme convenience or stress?
About two months ago, I made a big purchase. In fact, one of the biggest purchases I have made throughout my adult life: a car. I can still feel the flutter of excitement in my tummy as I laid eyes on my new wheels for the first time. Apart from greatly shortening my daily commute to work, my new car offered me something else I was secretly excited about… I couldn’t wait to blast my favourite music and sing without judgement. Like most city dwellers, I live in a compact flat with flatmates and neighbours just a wall away. For this reason, I hope you can understand my excitement, my new car offered sanctuary to let loose without fear of judgement of my song choice or rather, pitchy vocals.
However, only a short time after finally coming into contact with my new mobile haven did I realise something was seriously wrong. The aux port didn’t work. Consequently, my first week of my new commute went by to the soundtrack of local radio DJs, morning quizzes and the occasional static depending on where I was.
That weekend, I decided to literally and figuratively change my tune. I went down to my local music store and looked around at the CDs on offer. Eventually, I landed on a couple of second-hand CDs. Suddenly, what began as a compromise ended up opening my eyes to a new way to listen to music. With my new CDs playing in my car, I found myself listening to whole albums, instead of cherry-picking tracks. I listened to songs I would have otherwise skipped because they weren’t neatly highlighted as the artist’s “most popular” on Spotify. Slowly, I felt like I understood these artists better, and most importantly, became more open to songs that I may not have chosen. I was learning to let the music play, even if I didn’t love every moment.
This experience prompted me to consider how the rise of streaming platforms as the dominant form of music consumption has not only altered how we consume music but also how we think about it.
Streaming platforms rose to popularity in the late 2000s and early 2010s, aiding the transition from physical music consumption to digital. Undeniably, these platforms broke down many barriers for consumers and musicians, especially in terms of accessibility and disintermediation. However, with streaming platforms competing so aggressively, often offering low-cost or free memberships, they ultimately prioritise user engagement above all else to remain competitive.
One of the most significant consequences of streaming platforms like Spotify is the rise of insular listening, a trend where personalised algorithms and endless skipping options aid users, increasingly sticking to familiar genres, artists, and even songs. Though the platforms offer more music than ever before, this freedom often leads to a paradox; we listen less adventurously, not more.
As music access has become democratised, consumers are no longer restricted by geographic location, storage capacity, cost or lack of access to music equipment for creation and listening. Today, users possess complete autonomy over the music they are exposed to, and listen to, as well as the ability to skip, queue or jump between different songs, genres and artists without a second thought.
This sentiment was perfectly captured by writer Sophia Goddard in their feature for The Skinny: “We are allowed to be as close-minded as we feel comfortable.”
Compare this with music consumption 20 or 30 years ago. Back then, listeners were exposed to a broader mix of genres. For example, the Top 40 Radio charts exposed audiences to music which may have been outside their usual preferences. During the era of physical media, you couldn’t as easily skip a song on a CD, and that friction created space for surprise and discovery. Today, with friction removed, the user’s comfort zone often becomes the default.
To be clear, streaming platforms like Spotify offer unprecedented access to a wide variety of music, allowing users to explore new genres at their discretion. However, research finds that this extreme variety often overwhelms listeners, pushing them back to familiar sounds more often than not.
So, what have I learned from my broken aux port and those second-hand CDs? I think that music lovers today need to practice **conscious consumption.**Spotify is an amazing tool, but we need to use it with intention. Next time, let the next song play, even if it's unfamiliar. Explore the playlists your favourite artists curate. Don’t be afraid to sit with music you aren’t sure about. Slow down and embrace the journey, and you might find something you love.