Björn Ulvaeus: How music streaming transformed songwriting | TED

The Evolution of Songwriting in the Streaming Era

The Importance of Copyright

• A quote highlights that copyright aims to ensure fairness for authors and enhance societal quality by promoting progress in science, art, and culture.

• The economic feasibility for creators is recognized as a social imperative globally.

Personal Reflection on Songwriting

• The speaker recalls a vivid memory of writing lyrics while his wife slept nearby, emphasizing the intimate nature of songwriting.

• Music often comes without external aids; melodies can evoke images and sequences that need to be captured through writing.

• Songs may appear fully formed from the ether, suggesting they have been waiting for the right creator to bring them into existence.

Changes in the Music Industry

• The speaker expresses gratitude for music's existence and reflects on how modern competition has intensified with 80,000 new songs uploaded daily.

• He discusses how songwriters are becoming less visible in today's "song economy," where they receive a smaller share of revenue compared to other industry players.

Impact of Streaming on Songwriters

• Data shows listeners focus more on individual songs rather than artists, leading to songwriters being sidelined.

• There is concern that songwriters risk becoming invisible victims amid these changes in the music landscape.

Opportunities Amidst Challenges

• Despite challenges, there are positive aspects emerging from streaming; it’s now easier for anyone to reach a global audience independently.

• The unintended consequences of streaming are reshaping songwriter lives; proposals will be discussed later on addressing these impacts.

Financial Struggles Post-Pandemic

• Many artists realized streaming alone isn't enough for financial stability post-pandemic; some resorted to alternative jobs like driving Ubers.

• Historically, live performances were seen as promotional tools rather than primary income sources—contrasting with current artist experiences during the pandemic.

Changing Dynamics in Song Creation

• Professional songwriters typically do not tour or sell merchandise but rely solely on their songs' success.

• Record labels increasingly employ large teams of songwriters who collaborate to create hits optimized for streaming algorithms.

The Challenges of Songwriting in the Streaming Era

The Impact of Financial Stability on Creativity

• Benny and I could afford to write songs full time, which allowed us to discard 95% of our work and focus on quality. Recognizing poor material is essential for improving one's craft.

The Role of Royalties in Creative Freedom

• Royalties provided us with time and creative freedom; without this, songwriters often feel pressured, hindering their ability to create sustainably.

The Struggles of Modern Songwriters

• While some songwriters achieve great success, many others are struggling financially due to an industrial approach that prioritizes profit over creativity.

Key Pain Points:

1. Streaming services pay significantly more for recordings than compositions, leaving songwriters with minimal income compared to artists.

2. The current royalty distribution model is flawed; a listener's subscription fee is pooled and divided based on total streams rather than individual artist plays.

3. Bad metadata leads to untracked royalties; missing information about songwriters results in funds being lost in a "black box."

Proposed Solutions for Fairer Compensation

• Raising awareness about these issues is crucial, but actionable solutions must also be identified within the industry.

Suggestions for Improvement:

1. Implement fan-centric royalties where payments are allocated based on individual listener behavior rather than total streams.

2. Increase streaming service subscription prices; research indicates consumers may be willing to pay more than the current standard rate.

3. Establish user-friendly registration portals for new songs to ensure accurate metadata capture from the outset.

The Need for Industry-Wide Change

• Collecting societies must modernize their technology to adapt to digital realities and improve royalty distribution processes.

Importance of Collaboration:

• All parts of the music industry need to work together since songwriters are fundamental to all aspects of music production and performance.

Reflection on Music's Value