Photo credit: Gixels
The modern music industry is grappling with oversaturation, with over 100,000 songs uploaded to streaming platforms daily, according to Billboard. This flood of content, including AI-generated tracks and non-musical audio, could make it harder for emerging artists to attract audiences and build sustainable careers.
On Billboard’s “On the Record” podcast, Milana Lewis suggested that streaming platforms consider removing inactive songs unless artists actively repackage them. She highlighted the costs associated with maintaining excess content, including server storage and playlist curation. Some platforms may even implement fees for distributors whose songs don’t meet listening thresholds.
“There’s still a cost to carrying songs in excess [on streaming services]. There’s rumors I’ve heard of various DSPs who are toying around with fees, where they’re gonna charge distributors for content that’s below the threshold, and maintaining it there should [have] a shelf life,” Lewis said. “So if your music is out there and it’s not being consumed for a period of time, it should be taken down from the shelf, and the space should be cleared for someone else. If you are still active and you want to pursue that, then you just have to re-upload, repackage, and reposition.”
While streaming once promised opportunities for niche artists, critics argue that the massive volume of uploads has cluttered the market, favoring viral trends. Lewis also emphasized that artists now must juggle roles as marketers and content creators in addition to making music, and the rise of AI could exacerbate competition for attention in the digital landscape.
