The recent debate over alleged missing streaming income has once again put the spotlight on the economics of the music industry. While the emotions surrounding the issue are understandable, the conversation should not stop at who earned what. It should ask a more important question: do digital streams generate the kind of money many people believe they do?
Streaming has transformed how music reaches audiences, but it has also created unrealistic expectations. A song can become a regional sensation, dominate social media and accumulate impressive streaming numbers without making its creators wealthy.
Royalties vary depending on the listener's location, subscription type, and the agreements between artists, producers, songwriters, distributors and record labels.
That is why transparency matters. Artists deserve clear royalty statements and a better understanding of how digital income is calculated. Fans also deserve accurate information before concluding that every hit song is worth hundreds of thousands of rand.
The Venda music industry has never lacked talent. What it lacks is a large commercial market capable of converting popularity into sustainable income.
Until that changes, streaming should be viewed as one part of an artist's business rather than the entire business model.