Platformisation of the Music Industry

Platformisation is “the penetration of digital platforms’ economic, infrastructural, and governmental extensions into the cultural industries, as well as the organization of cultural practices of labor, creativity, and democracy” (Poell et al., 2022).

The platformisation of music has democratized distribution but flooded platforms with content, favoring major labels and leaving most artists struggling. Streaming has eroded middle-class earnings, while AI and algorithms often confine growth to national markets. Diversification into social audio, such as live audio discussions and community interactions, and short videos is growing, but sustainable revenue models remain a key challenge. Despite these challenges, data-driven insights and evolving platform services offer new opportunities for artists and labels.