
How streaming affects musicians, and what they can do about it
From The Human Interface: An OII Podcast by Oxford University
January 22, 2026 · 31 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the challenges musicians face in the streaming era and the impact of streaming platforms on their earnings.
S2E1: It's never been easier for musicians to release music, but the economics of the music industry and online streaming mean earning a living has become ever more challenging. We explore how streaming platforms impact musicians. Researchers Dr Robert Prey (OII) and Dr Seonok Lee (University of Groningen) break down how the 'pro rata' model of streaming platforms dilutes payments to musicians, and draw on findings from a survey of 1,200 musicians across five countries to reveal cultural and economic differences in what it means to be a musician today.
People in this episode
Guests: Dr Robert Prey, Dr Seonok Lee
Topics covered
- music industry
- streaming platforms
- musician economics
- pro rata model
- cultural differences
- economic differences
Keywords
- streaming
- musicians
- music industry
- pro rata model
- economics
- survey
- cultural differences
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: OII, University of Groningen
Places: five countries
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