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| SOURCE: WWW.COMPLEX.COM |
In the past few weeks, hip hop mogul Jay Z released a music streaming app called Tidal. The app proclaimed to have high quality music streaming and exclusive content, as Jay Z partnered with industry heavy hitters like Beyonce, Rihanna, Kanye West, and more. After the initial hype pushed the app to only moderate, temporary success, it later fell to below the top 750 spot in the iTunes app store.
While the app is still in its beginning phases and still has room to improve and grow, it speaks to the power of the artists in the industry. If even the most popular, successful artists cannot get people to pay for the service, there will be little to nothing that will. The success of the app mirrors public opinion, as people have now gotten used to finding ways to download music for free, whether legal or not.
The music industry has changed, as consumers demand instant gratification when it comes to listening to music. People have creatively found services and websites to stream music for free the second it comes out, or even before it comes out. The hip hop industry has contributed to this mindset, as rappers release mixtapes and albums that are available instantly, for free, on multiple websites or apps.
It will be interesting to see where the future of the music industry goes. If people stop paying for music altogether, how will it affect the commercial success of hip hop artists? While tours, appearances, and merchandise can still make an artist wealthy, album sales currently contribute to a great portion of artists' success.
Future Question: How does the Illuminati affect the hip hop indudstry?
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