The hottest Streaming Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Music Topics

The Music Business is Healthy Again? Really?

The Honest Broker • 20845 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
🎶 Music Streaming Artists Industry Trends Market Analysis
  1. There's a big difference between music industry profits and musicians' earnings. While the industry claims to be thriving, many musicians are finding it harder to make money.
  2. Streaming platforms are making more money than ever but paying musicians less. This trend is leading to fewer opportunities for artists to earn from their work.
  3. The excitement in music is shifting towards live performances rather than recorded music. Fans seem to care more about concerts than new albums, highlighting a disconnect in how music is consumed.

"The Infrastructure of the Recording Industry Is About to Fail”

The Honest Broker • 35074 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🎶 Music Streaming Production
  1. The Hollywood industry is facing major problems, with many production companies moving away from California to other states and countries. This shift is caused by a mix of factors, including declining investments in new movies and changing viewer habits.
  2. Movie theaters aren't attracting audiences like before; ticket sales are dropping significantly. Creators, including famous directors, are considering other platforms like theater, which offer more stability and better audience engagement.
  3. Streaming services are prioritizing profits over original content, making it harder for creators to earn money. The industry needs to support creative talent more and explore new, independent platforms that give creators a bigger share of profits.

The Ugly Truth About Spotify Is Finally Revealed

The Honest Broker • 155259 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🎶 Music Streaming Production Journalism Industry Ethics
  1. Spotify has been using fake artists to fill playlists, leading to confusion about real musicians. Many tracks are distributed under different names, suggesting a strategy to minimize royalty payments.
  2. An investigative journalist revealed that Spotify has a program aimed at promoting cheaper music, often created without the involvement of human musicians. This raises concerns about the ethical treatment of artists.
  3. There is a call for greater transparency and regulation in the music streaming industry. Some believe that a cooperative platform owned by musicians and labels could be a better solution.

Mainstream Is Now Fringe, and Fringe Is Mainstream

The Honest Broker • 30220 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Media Influence Entertainment Streaming Journalism
  1. The gap between mainstream media and fringe content is closing. People now watch popular streamers and influencers way more than traditional news outlets.
  2. Legacy media companies are struggling and may not survive unless billionaires buy them. Many journalists might find it tough to work in this environment.
  3. The rise of alternative media is changing the game for all creative industries. In the future, small teams or solo creators might take on major companies in music, movies, and games.

The Death of the B-Side Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1327 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🎶 Music Album Vinyl Streaming Cultural impact
  1. B-sides were special songs that didn't fit on albums, offering hidden gems that fans could discover. In today's music scene, the magic of finding these tracks has almost disappeared.
  2. While people think albums are dying, many artists, like Taylor Swift, continue to create and sell vinyl records, showing that albums are still popular. They are more resilient than people might believe.
  3. Streaming services change how we discover music, focusing on what we already like. This can make us miss out on new, unexpected music, which is what B-sides used to provide.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Embrace the content grind

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Media Content creation Streaming Advertising Monetization
  1. Consistency is key for creators. It's important to keep creating and improving, even when you don't see immediate results.
  2. YouTube is becoming more dominant in content creation due to its strong revenue sharing model, making it hard for other platforms to compete for talent.
  3. Tubi’s strategy of offering free content while avoiding expensive originals is smart. It focuses on generating ad revenue without needing big-budget shows.

How Hollywood streamers should work with YouTubers

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 324 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Media Marketing Advertising Content creation Streaming
  1. Hollywood streamers are looking to collaborate more with popular YouTubers, especially for unscripted projects. They might save money by licensing existing creators' content rather than creating new shows.
  2. Facebook groups are filling the gap left by local newspapers, providing communities with news and updates. However, these groups might lack the accuracy and depth of professional journalism.
  3. TikTok, especially BookTok, is driving more people to visit physical bookstores like Barnes & Noble. It's interesting how the platform encourages in-person shopping instead of just online sales.

The biggest creators are no longer in the merch business

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 648 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
💼 Business Media Creators Ecommerce Streaming Content Strategy
  1. Top creators are moving away from selling low-quality merch and focusing on high-quality products that can compete with retail brands. This shift is about attracting a broader market beyond just their fans.
  2. Apple News has a huge user base and is likely the biggest source of traffic for traditional news outlets after Google. It highlights the importance of being present on major platforms to drive audience engagement.
  3. The current sports streaming landscape is complicated, with fans needing multiple subscriptions to access all games. A more straightforward solution could improve viewer experience and access to content.

When will the sports media bubble pop?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 274 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎾 Sports Media Broadcasting Streaming Content Strategy Audience engagement
  1. The sports media market is becoming really expensive for fans because cable bundles that used to help pay for sports are fading away. Many believe this bubble will burst, leading leagues to lower their prices and possibly stream games themselves.
  2. There's a growing niche in media, with some focused newsletters and channels doing well by targeting very specific interests. This shift shows that unique, dedicated content can attract a loyal audience.
  3. For media companies, it’s essential to focus on both new material and evergreen content. By promoting older content, businesses can keep viewers engaged and drive more traffic.

The end of the live streamer mega deals

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
💼 Business Media Streaming Marketing Content creation Publishing
  1. Many livestreamers who signed huge contracts with platforms like YouTube and Mixer are now returning to Twitch as their contracts end. It shows a shift back to where they started, highlighting the unpredictable nature of streaming deals.
  2. Podcasts, especially video podcasts, are growing in value and popularity. They offer creators a chance to reach more people and compete better with big media, but they still aren't fully recognized by traditional media companies.
  3. Apple TV+ is cleverly marketing its shows by giving away earlier seasons for free on platforms like Roku. This approach can attract new subscribers and create buzz for upcoming seasons, but not all streaming services are doing this.

An Open Letter to Taylor Swift

The Honest Broker • 38632 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🎶 Music Industry Artists Streaming Live Music
  1. The music ecosystem faces various challenges like declining artist incomes, corporatized platforms, and struggling live music venues.
  2. Big players like streaming platforms, record labels, and technocrats may not provide solutions for these challenges.
  3. Taylor Swift is encouraged to lead a new initiative to empower musicians, create fair music distribution, and revitalize the music industry.

Falling Asleep with the TV On

Kneeling Bus • 264 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Television Media Entertainment Streaming Comedy
  1. TV often has small moments that stick with us but might never be found again. These moments can shape our memories even if they seem unimportant.
  2. Norm Macdonald showed how viewers might not actually be watching shows, making their success numbers look inflated. This makes it hard to trust viewer ratings.
  3. Platforms like Netflix gain more from having lots of content rather than focusing on individual shows or movies. This means many films just get lost in the shuffle and are easy to forget.

The newsletter platform wars heat up

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 548 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💼 Business Media Entrepreneurship Streaming Content creation Subscription Models
  1. The newsletter market is competitive as platforms like Substack and Beehiiv fight for creators. Beehiiv aims to help creators monetize with ads better than Substack, which focuses on subscriptions.
  2. Big media companies see theatrical releases as a way to boost streaming views. They think that cinema buzz can lead to more interest in streaming the same content later.
  3. Forbes is moving away from freelance writers due to changes in Google's policies. They're focusing more on their internal content to adapt to new search engine challenges.

"This Is a Hell of a Statement I'm About to Make—But He Superseded Miles"

The Honest Broker • 7846 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎶 Music Streaming Jazz Culture Media Investment
  1. Spotify is facing challenges with fake artists, playlists, and financial losses, raising concerns about the music streaming service's business model.
  2. The shift from macroculture to microculture is evident in the media industry, with traditional legacy outlets experiencing layoffs while alternative platforms like Substack thrive.
  3. There is a trend towards investment firms buying song catalogs, the decline of live music reviews in mainstream media, and interest in the transformative power of sound highlighted through the work of Hans Jenny in 'Cymatics'.

Netflix Data Engineer Stack

VuTrinh. • 359 implied HN points • 30 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Data Engineering Software Tools Streaming Analytics Infrastructure
  1. Netflix's data engineering stack uses tools like Apache Iceberg and Spark for building batch data pipelines. This helps them transform and manage large amounts of data efficiently.
  2. For real-time data processing, Netflix relies on Apache Flink and a tool called Keystone. This setup makes it easier to handle streaming data and send it where it needs to go.
  3. To ensure data quality and scheduling, Netflix has developed tools like the WAP pattern for auditing data and Maestro for managing workflows. These tools help keep the data process organized and reliable.

Is Spotify the new YouTube?

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2448 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Social media Streaming Content creation
  1. Spotify is introducing a program for creators that lets them earn money from video podcasts based on views, similar to YouTube. This gives creators more ways to make money beyond just ads.
  2. The number of users watching video podcasts on Spotify is growing quickly, showing that there's a chance for creators to attract audiences from YouTube.
  3. However, creators may face challenges in getting visibility on Spotify since it doesn't have an algorithm like YouTube to promote their content effectively.

YouTube TV is charging more money for a worse product — but what is the next best alternative?

Huddle Up • 11 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Streaming Television Digital Media Subscriptions Telecom
  1. YouTube TV started as a great alternative to cable, offering a slim package of channels for a low price, which many people loved.
  2. Over the years, YouTube TV gained huge popularity, reaching nearly all U.S. households and becoming the biggest streaming TV service.
  3. However, instead of improving the service, they have raised prices while not delivering better features, making customers feel it's a worse deal now.

Why Spotify is struggling to copy YouTube's playbook

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 424 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Streaming Media Podcasts Digital Publishing Influencers
  1. Spotify wants to be like YouTube by creating more video podcasts, but it's facing challenges. Many podcasts are hosted on different platforms, which makes it hard for Spotify to control everything.
  2. YouTube grew its ad business by having both video hosting and distribution. Spotify is trying to bring podcasters to its own platform, but many are reluctant to let one company have so much power.
  3. The shift in how Google ranks websites is affecting smaller publishers a lot. Many are losing traffic because the new updates target what Google considers 'low quality' sites.

Introducing live video in the Substack app

Substack • 833 implied HN points • 18 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Software Innovation Communication Streaming Mobile Apps
  1. Substack has added a live video feature that lets creators engage with their audience in real time. This means you can share news, behind-the-scenes moments, or host interactive sessions directly from the app.
  2. When you go live, your subscribers will get automatic notifications, making it easy for them to join. You can even limit access to only paid subscribers if you want to create exclusive content.
  3. Collaborating with other creators during live videos can help expand your audience. You can invite someone else to stream with you, which is a great way to share different perspectives and increase engagement.

EMPTY CHEESE JAR

Entering The Lung • 3125 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🎶 Music Artists Streaming Covid impact
  1. Musicians are struggling financially, especially due to streaming services like Spotify.
  2. The pandemic has worsened the situation for musicians without financial safety nets.
  3. There is a need for better support systems for musicians to ensure their well-being and livelihood.

HEY! Watch Disaffected on Twitter Sunday Night!

Disaffected Newsletter • 599 implied HN points • 13 May 24
🎙 Podcasts Critique Media Streaming Entertainment Social media
  1. The show 'Disaffected' will be available on Twitter this Sunday at 9 pm Eastern time. People are encouraged to join and chat during the show.
  2. YouTube and Apple blocked a video from 'Disaffected', claiming it was unfairly flagged despite it being a fair use critique. This situation highlights concerns about censorship.
  3. Viewers are urged to support 'Disaffected' and help make the Twitter show a success after their struggles with other platforms.

Getting started with live video

Substack • 446 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Social media Streaming Content creation Audience engagement Digital marketing
  1. Live video is a great way to connect with subscribers in real time. You can share special moments or hold conversations to reach more people.
  2. Promote your live sessions ahead of time to build excitement, and after the session, share highlights on social media to engage a wider audience.
  3. Consistency is key. The more often you go live, the better chance you have to grow your audience and strengthen your relationship with subscribers.

Another cable news star goes the independent route

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 249 implied HN points • 12 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Elections Streaming Subscriptions Entrepreneurs
  1. More cable news stars are leaving traditional networks to start their own independent projects, like podcasts and video channels. This shows a trend toward building direct connections with audiences.
  2. Companies like CNN are facing challenges as they try to shift their focus from linear TV to digital platforms. They have a big advantage with a large news-gathering team, but changing the company culture will be tough.
  3. Media outlets are seeing a spike in subscriptions whenever notable political events happen, like elections. Publications are trying to leverage these moments, hoping for increased support similar to past trends.

'I Love Lilith'

Daily Dreher • 1297 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Animation Streaming
  1. A new adult cartoon series called 'Hazbin Hotel' has debuted on Amazon.
  2. The show features Lilith, Queen of the Demons.
  3. Viewers are encouraged to watch the first few minutes to experience the unique visuals and sound.

The Unclassifiable, Unstreamable Eighties Albums of Annette Peacock

Dada Drummer Almanach • 86 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🎶 Music Rock Jazz Albums Streaming
  1. Annette Peacock's albums from the eighties aren't available on streaming services or in print. It's hard to find her music today.
  2. Peacock is seen as a rock star due to her unique style and background, but she struggles with self-confidence. She believes bravery and confidence are different traits.
  3. Despite her struggles, Peacock has had an intriguing career with many twists, showing her brave nature in the music industry.

Why is this Michael Keaton thriller Censored on Amazon?

Textual Variations • 165 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Film Censorship Streaming Media Entertainment
  1. The movie 'Pacific Heights' has a censored version on Amazon that blurs nudity and mutes swear words. This makes it feel funny and odd, affecting the film's serious tone.
  2. It's unclear who decided to censor the film, but it likely wasn't Amazon itself. The owners may have done it to attract more viewers or advertisers.
  3. With more streaming platforms introducing ads, there are concerns that censorship could become more common. People expect to see the full version of films and should be informed if it's edited.

🍿 Netflix Steps into the WWE Ring

How They Make Money • 569 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
💼 Business Streaming Revenue Entertainment Gaming Subscription
  1. Netflix secures a $5 billion, 10-year deal with WWE for exclusive rights to 'Raw' and other shows, expanding its reach internationally.
  2. WWE's global appeal, available in 180 countries and reaching over one billion homes, makes it a strategic fit for Netflix.
  3. Moving WWE content to Netflix provides a win-win situation, giving WWE access to a larger platform and providing Netflix with exclusive content to retain and attract members.

476: Boring Success, Microsoft CapEx, LVMH, Nvidia, Data Center Electricity, Spotify & Joe Rogan, Tesla Model 3 Refresh, and Dragon Prince

Liberty’s Highlights • 412 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Podcasts Data Centers Electricity AI Streaming
  1. Compete in life with kindness, creativity, and resilience, not just success.
  2. Success in one area can enable you to take risks and be more adventurous in other aspects of life.
  3. Electricity consumption from data centers, AI, and crypto is expected to double by 2026, impacting energy needs significantly.

Bet on YouTube

Political Currents by Ross Barkan • 46 implied HN points • 21 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Social media Streaming Content creation Digital innovation Tech Companies
  1. YouTube is growing and could become the main streaming service, taking over traditional TV as more people cut their cable. It’s very popular and has a huge library of music and videos.
  2. While many tech innovations are disappointing, YouTube stands out as a great platform for finding unique content like deep cuts in music and various genres of videos.
  3. Even though big companies like Google and Meta seem powerful, there’s a lot of creativity and energy in smaller communities on YouTube that could change things in the future.

A Business Upended: The Streaming Disruption of the Movie & Broadcasting Business

Musings on Markets • 759 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
💼 Business Entertainment Streaming Media Finance Television
  1. The rise of streaming services like Netflix has drastically changed how we consume movies and shows. Many people are moving away from cable TV and preferring the convenience of streaming platforms.
  2. The movie industry may face a fate similar to the music industry due to streaming disruptions. Just as music labels struggled to adapt, traditional movie companies might find it hard to survive without significant changes.
  3. Streaming has led to increased content production but also rising costs. While there's more choice for viewers, the quality can sometimes suffer, leaving many overwhelmed by the options available.