Nick Jarjour’s Post

The music distribution market in Thailand offers exciting opportunities for independent artists, especially considering the following factors: Reaching a Wider Audience: Digital Platforms: Distribution through platforms like Spotify, Joox, YouTube Music, and Apple Music allows independent artists to bypass geographical limitations and reach listeners across Thailand and even globally. Increased Visibility: Music distributors can help artists gain exposure through playlist pitching, social media promotion, and online marketing campaigns. Monetization and Growth: Streaming Revenue: Artists earn royalties whenever their music is streamed on these platforms, creating a sustainable income stream. Transparency and Control: Many distributors provide detailed analytics on streaming data, enabling artists to understand their audience and tailor their music accordingly. Rights Management: Distributors can ensure proper collection and distribution of royalties for artists, protecting their intellectual property. Reduced Barriers to Entry: Cost-Effective Distribution: Compared to traditional methods, digital distribution allows independent artists to release their music at a lower cost. DIY Options: Several music distribution platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and affordable pricing, allowing artists to manage their own distribution to some extent. Challenges for Independent Artists: Standing Out: The market is flooded with music. Artists need effective marketing strategies and high-quality music production to stand out. Navigating the Landscape: Understanding complex music distribution agreements and royalty structures can be challenging for newcomers. Building a Fanbase: Establishing a loyal following takes time and effort. Independent artists need to actively engage with fans through social media and live performances. Tips for Success: Partner with a Reliable Distributor: Choose a distributor with experience in the Thai market and a good reputation for artist support. Invest in Quality Production: Ensure your music is professionally recorded and mastered to compete effectively. Build Your Online Presence: Develop a strong social media presence and connect with potential fans. Utilize Data Insights: Use data from streaming platforms to understand listener preferences and adjust your strategy. Network with Industry Professionals: Build relationships with other artists, music producers, and industry professionals for collaboration and guidance. By leveraging the opportunities offered by music distribution and working towards overcoming the challenges, independent Thai artists can gain a foothold in the music industry and build a successful career.

Here’s what I mean: In the past, artists often needed the support of a record label to succeed in the music industry. Record labels provided funding, marketing, and distribution for artists' music. However, with the rise of social media and streaming platforms, artists have more opportunities to succeed on their own terms. Social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok allow artists to directly connect with their fans. Artists can share updates about their music, engage with their audience through live streams or posts, and build a loyal fanbase without the need for a record label's promotion. Streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music have become the primary way people consume music. Artists can distribute their music on these platforms independently or through digital distributors without the need for a record label's distribution network. By bypassing record labels, artists retain more control over their music and finances. They earn a higher percentage of royalties from streaming platforms and have the flexibility to release music on their own schedule, without the pressure of meeting label deadlines or expectations. Without the constraints of a record label's contract, artists have the freedom to explore their creativity and experiment with their music. They can choose their own collaborators, musical direction, and visual aesthetics, allowing for more authentic and personal artistic expression. Social media gives artists more options and leverage if they decide to sign with a record label, do a sponsorship, product partnership, etc. Overall, the rise of social media and streaming platforms has empowered artists to take control of their careers and succeed independently without the need for a record label's backing. This shift has democratized the music industry, allowing artists from diverse backgrounds and genres to thrive on their own terms. Disclaimer: Just because I experienced the world in a certain way, does not mean it’s that way for everyone. My experience may change in the future and so too will my opinions.

The music industry is experiencing a remarkable transformation, with the global music market projected to grow from USD 28.29 billion in 2023 to USD 42.62 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 8.54%. This growth is driven by several factors that have shaped the industry in recent years. One of the significant changes is the internationalization of the music community. Advancements in technology and digital platforms have connected fans and artists from around the world like never before. This interconnectedness has created opportunities for both parties to enjoy and share music on a global scale. The rise of intelligent devices and digital platforms has played a crucial role in this growth. Music streaming services, with their user-friendly features like automatic playlist customization and personalized song recommendations, have become increasingly popular. These platforms offer a convenient and hassle-free way for users to access a vast library of music, including audio and video content. Social media platforms like YouTube have also provided aspiring artists with a platform to showcase their work and reach a global audience. Investments from recording companies, particularly through Artists & Repertoire (A&R) and marketing, have contributed significantly to the music industry's expansion. Record labels invest billions of dollars each year in artists, demonstrating their commitment to supporting talent and driving the industry's growth. The COVID-19 pandemic, while devastating in many ways, has had a positive impact on the music streaming sector. With lockdowns implemented worldwide, people turned to music streaming services and live streaming platforms for entertainment. This resulted in increased subscriber numbers for platforms like Spotify, Tencent Music Entertainment, and Amazon Music. Video content, in particular, gained even more popularity during the pandemic, further boosting the growth of the music streaming sector. While the growth of the music market is promising, it's important to acknowledge the challenges faced by artists, especially in terms of generating income. The spotlight does play a significant role in an artist's ability to generate money, as increased visibility often leads to more opportunities for revenue. However, it's not the only factor. Artists can explore various avenues, such as live performances, merchandise sales, licensing deals, and brand partnerships, to diversify their revenue streams. Additionally, music foundations are working towards supporting the long-term development and sustainability of artists. These initiatives aim to provide resources, funding, and educational opportunities to empower artists to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. In conclusion, while being in the spotlight can certainly help artists generate income, it's not the sole determinant of financial success.

Napster made Music a public good for a brief time. And today? The music business is more top-heavy than ever. Fans could download their favourite songs, older hits, unreleased recordings and lives from concerts. The word “MP3” became popular and the journey leading to streaming media kicked off. At its peak, Napster had about 80 million users sharing music files peer-to-peer from its centralized database. When heavy metal band Metallica discovered that their new single “I Disappear” had circulated freely before the release, they sued the company; the same did Madonna for her song “Music”. But for Radiohead, it worked perfectly: they hit the US top 20 for the first time in October 2000, with basically no marketing. Their recordings had been freely downloaded millions of times on Napster for months. When the album was released, people already loved it and sales went ballistic. The pre-Napster music business model was simple: a scout goes to shows to look for talents. Artists sign multi year contracts with a studio, which produces and distributes their music. Artist could not do anything without a label. Studios were talent scouts, producers and distributors. And consumers had to buy an entire album. Between 1999 and 2001, Napster exposed the weaknesses of this 100-year old business model, before shutting down following litigations and bankruptcy. Right after Napster’s demise, Steve Jobs saw an opportunity to offer affordable music to fans who didn't want to go in store to buy expensive CDs. In 2001, Apple launched a new application called iTunes, allowing consumers to buy one single song. 5 years later, in April 2006 in Sweden, Spotify was born. The journey from Napster to Spotify, from MP3-sharing to Streaming, has devastated the music business. But it hasn’t been a “democratisation” of music. Quite the opposite. Revenue in the industry dropped 40% between 1999 and 2014 and the power shifted from old studio to streaming companies. The business imploded: there were dozens of players in the 90s, while now the market is shared by only a few entities, consolidated in largest entertainment juggernauts. People now get the music in different way. Instead of purchasing entire studio-released album, they subscribe to digital streaming libraries. Music stores used to sell music. Now, the business is gone. Consequences for musicians have been huge. Streaming has increased the gap between top artists and average ones, with the top 1% now accounting for 90% of all music streamed. And since profits are based on streaming time, a few stars take the biggest share of the cake. And if it’s true that social media have given unknown talents a chance to showcase their material, it’s also undeniable that established names have benefited the most, since they could get rid of music labels to promote their music: if you are Taylor Swift and you have 250 million followers on Instagram, your marketing power is potentially unlimited. #musicindustry

🎶 According to IFPI’s Global Music Report, worldwide recorded music revenues totaled $26.2 billion in 2022, up 9 percent from the previous year’s total of $24 billion. This marks the eighth consecutive year of growth for the global music industry after nearly two decades of gradual decline. Interestingly, the transition to digital distribution has both fueled the music industry’s decline and helped stop it. After the golden age of the CD, which propelled worldwide music revenues to unprecedented highs through the 1990s, the advent of MP3 and filesharing hit the music industry like an earthquake. Between 2001 and 2010, physical music sales declined by more than 60 percent, wiping out $14 billion in annual revenue. During the same period, digital music sales, mostly downloads a the time, grew from zero to almost $4 billion, which wasn’t even remotely enough to offset the drop in CD sales. It wasn’t until the appearance and widespread adoption of music streaming services that the music industry’s fortunes began turning around again. According to data published by IFPI, the music industry bottomed out in 2014, when revenue was at a 20-year low of $13.1 billion, $9 billion less than it had been 15 years prior, when physical music sales alone had amounted to $22.3 billion at the peak of the CD era. After some initial hesitancy by the music industry to embrace streaming services, record labels and artists appear to have followed consumers’ lead in accepting that the future of music lies in digital distribution. In 2022, digital music accounted for the lion's share of worldwide music revenues, with streaming services alone accounting for 67 percent of the industry’s total haul. According to IFPI, 589 million people were using a paid music streaming subscription by the end of 2022 and streaming revenues are now considerably bigger than digital download sales ever were.