The Economics of Pop: How Artists Make Money
Streaming continues to dominate the music industry, making up nearly 90% of global revenue. But for artists, those pennies per…
Category: Popnomics
Blue Dot Fever Is Spreading Among Artists
There’s a new phrase quietly haunting the music industry: “Blue Dot Fever.” If you’ve spent any time staring at Ticketmaster…
AI Pop Stars, Virtual Idols, and the Future of Fame
Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to production tools or behind the scenes experimentation. In recent years, AI generated vocals,…
SongDNA, Data Analytics, and the New Science of Hit Songs
Pop music has always balanced intuition and strategy, but today’s industry relies on data more than ever before. Streaming platforms…
Spotify’s $11 Billion Moment, Where’s My Share?
The music industry reached a major financial milestone in 2025 as Spotify announced it paid more than $11 billion to…
Record Label Power Dynamics: How Artists Are Rewriting the Rules
For decades, record labels have stood as both the dream and the danger of the music industry…a path to fame…
The Rise of Fan Equity and Micro-Ownership in Music
For decades, artists have depended on labels, publishers, or touring to fund their careers. Today, a new approach is gaining…
Beating That Pesky Algorithm
Once upon a time, climbing the charts meant selling records or landing radio airplay. Today, your biggest ally (or obstacle)…
When AI Joins the Studio: What the Musixmatch Deal Means for Musicians
Artificial intelligence keeps showing up in places musicians never expected. Now it’s entering the heart of the music business. Musixmatch…
Record Labels Prepare Landmark AI Licensing Deals: What Musicians Should Know
When I first saw reports that record labels may soon finalize “landmark” AI music licensing deals, I felt both curious…