The economics of streaming is changing pop songs

“WHERE THE streets have no name”, the first song on U2’s blockbuster 1987 album, “Joshua Tree”, begins with 40 seconds of ambient noise. A guitar arpeggio enters and accelerates into the driving rhythm of the drums and bass that arrive around 1:10. Nearly two minutes pass before Bono breathes the first lyrics. Such leisurely intros are no more, says Justin Kalifowitz of Downtown Music Publishing, a rights manager. Streaming platforms like Spotify have reshaped the music business—and pop songs. The gist of it: songwriters now get to the good stuff sooner.

From sheet music to MP3s, technology has long influenced the form of music. Ever since songwriters have been paid royalties, however, one thing was constant: compensation was tied to sales. But last year streaming accounted for almost half the industry’s revenues of $19.1bn. In America, the share was 80%.