Music can really make the world go round. Music has the ability to unite people in a single thought, be it peace, harmony, joy, or a specific cause, and it has changed the word song by song. But music used to be limited and underappreciated by many. Not because the music back then was of poor quality but because it wasn’t as accessible as it is today. Today we have the freedom to gain access to all kinds of music with the help of technology, which is why the awareness and appreciation of the music industry has grown significantly in such a short time.
Long before the internet had its glory, music was confined to a smaller audience. Some of the most powerful songs ever written were sung and played clandestinely out of fear of bigger issues like communism, capitalism, and war. With the advent of e-commerce, the world has become a giant playground for music from different eras, stages, and styles. E-commerce has opened up a new avenue for music to be heard in other places where it can be fully appreciated. Buying music online has become so easy and fast that it has broken down not only geographical but also cultural barriers. When music started making its way online, it became a lucrative new industry.
Little did we know then that the music industry would be as big as it is now? Today, song sales on iTunes, eBay, and Amazon run into the billions of dollars a day, and that’s just in the United States. Through ecommerce stars like Coldplay and Beyoncé have been born. These artists might have been famous only in their countries, but the Internet has made them international superstars because e-commerce has allowed anyone around the world to buy their songs. Even the smallest independent artists and underground bands can now showcase their talent online through e-commerce, giving every artist the opportunity to make it big where the music field is a little more level.
Buying songs online has also given the consumer more freedom to choose what songs they want to spend on. Previously, songs had to be purchased with the full album, but today you can purchase the song individually. This has increased sales more than ever. Not only are the songs available, but they will also be available as soon as the album hits the market. This makes them available online to anyone around the world as soon as the song comes out. This feature of e-commerce helps make music more competitive and effective globally. There is no longer any discrimination as to who and when these songs can only be heard.
However, some negative effects have affected the music industry as well. Because the Internet is so accessible and easy to use, illegal download sharing has also flourished. This development puts a damper on e-commerce profits because music can now be taken for free. Current ways of controlling this phenomenon are being attempted.