Spotify is killing the Youtube star. call the police

There have been a lot of changes brought about by the internet and subsequent "Social Network" byproduct. If there's one thing constant, it's change. I don't see it as destructive toward old routines and norms. To me, it's just simply LIFE. This is how shit's always been and it's how it's always gonna be. Now we don't only get what the record company wants us to, we get to see a lot more talent (and bullshit). People can market themselves in ways never before possible. I have found more new music that I really enjoy in the last two weeks using Spotify than I could have found in two years listening to the radio. I'm able to read about artists and share songs, albums, artists and playlists with friends and followers. Biographies are available for most artists. This is a one-stop marketing launchpad for artists. This is what's gonna bring about some really good talent and interesting music because popularity rests on the opinions of listeners, not record companies. This can be good or bad for the record companies depending on how you look at it. Yeah, bigger companies that have been head honchos are shrinking due to lost sales and more options for artists, but smaller companies are growing because they can find good artists more easily. This is social networking with music and whatever people hear and share will catch on and generate buzz for artists and their respective labels. Many DJ's are becoming superstars as well. Things are much different for them from a traditional standpoint because they aren't recording artists as much as they are live artists. Most of them start as software nerds and get hooked on the equipment and manipulation of sound. They start spinning for friends and move onto clubs and parties. Word of mouth is the strongest market for them. Without the internet and new ways of communicating and sharing music, many of them would not be known at all. Many times, the one's that record on labels usually started the label or collaborated with similar DJ's to start it. IE: The glitch mob was four DJ's who split up. Josh Mayer (Ooah, from Glitch Mob) joined Martin Folb (MartyParty) to form PANTyRAID, who just released an album on Glitch Mob's label, Glass Air. None of this shit happened before Social Networking. DJ's can also offer free downloads for promoting an upcoming show or album release. I'm pretty fucking sure that NO record company gave away singles to the public, on a regular basis, to promote their artists. I don't think this trend will negatively affect the record label from an artistic standpoint. I see record labels becoming more savvy and art-minded instead of money minded. Good, genuine music is wanted more than ever and the company that supports that and diligently finds/promotes it will be on top of this wave and not crushed by the changes. To say that this trend is destroying the music business we know is like saying today destroyed yesterday. It's just the natural sequence of things. Things must move forward and this is just the road taken. CD's are obsolete because of digital media and ipods. Last year, department discount stores sold 93.2 million albums. Digital merchants sold 111.7 albums. I think this is a good sign for record labels because the music is more accessible. Fuck CD's. Vinyl's making a comeback though, which is an indication that people are tired of the commercialized bullshit and want substance, authenticity and art. Sean Parker - Spotify interview (We've got you by the balls)