Remember CDs? Pros and cons of the new era of streaming platforms and AI music

CapeTalk and 702's Stephen Grootes speaks to tech analyst Siphumelele Zondi.

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Musica, a South African music and entertainment retailer, closed all its stores in May 2021.

The closure was due to the declining market for physical media (CDs, DVDs) and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Musica, owned by the Clicks Group, had been a leading retailer for physical music and movies for nearly three decades. 

A "different era" to music streaming and AI music, says Zondi.

"A lot has changed since the CD era... for example, you used to own a lot of music you play, you go to the store, buy it, play it at home, and have it forever and ever. Now, it's almost like you rent music. With these platforms, if you haven't paid that month, you don't have access to your music library... I suppose for the consumer that's the biggest change in terms of the ownership of music."

- Siphumelele Zondi, Tech Analyst

Despite the abundance of music streaming platforms, Spotify still stands out from the rest, according to Zondi.

"Most people use Android devices, and Spotify works seamlessly with Android," Zondi explains.

He adds that Spotify’s reach extends into areas often underserved by other platforms. "Spotify also goes into the deep South," offering a broader selection of music beyond the Western mainstream. This support for diverse genres has helped emerging styles, like Amapiano, break into the global spotlight.

“Amapiano gained mainstream popularity thanks to the exposure it got through streaming platforms,” Zondi notes.

With the rise of AI-generated music and uncertainty around how it will be regulated, it’s becoming harder to tell whether a song was made by a human or AI, says Zondi. Different platforms are already introducing their own rules regarding AI music.

Zondi acknowledges that this new era of music presents both opportunities and challenges for artists.

For up-and-coming musicians, streaming platforms offer a fast track to recognition, international exposure, and new audiences.

However, legacy artists may not see the same financial benefits from streaming, Zondi points out. Still, older music sometimes finds new life on these platforms. For instance, Connie Francis’s Pretty Little Baby, originally released in 1962, trended on TikTok this year, bringing renewed attention to the classic.

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