Soundtracks That Shape Us, Paid Subscription Growth & Analog Revival.

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Shift to Paid Subscriptions

Streaming is moving fast, and the big story is the shift to paid subscriptions. Norway and Iceland are leading the way, with over 90% of streams coming from premium users. Meanwhile, places like India and Indonesia are still sticking with ad-supported streams, but we are likely to start seeing minor increases in paid subs over time.

In the U.S., it’s a mixed bag. Country music fans are already ponying up, while Latin music listeners tend to go the ad-supported route. But here’s the thing: ad-supported streams aren’t a dead end—they’re often the start of the journey for future premium subscribers. So, streaming services will need to step up their game to secure customer loyalty.  

The bottom line? Streaming revenue will jump dramatically as more regions and genres move towards paid streaming. 

The top 5 countries in premium streaming shared (audio + video):

In stark contrast, here are the 5 lowest:

To the math (using Spotify’s pricing as an example).

For 1 million users, Norway rakes in around $11.51 million per month from premium subscribers ($12.31 per month) thanks to its high adoption rate. Meanwhile, India only brings in about $140,768 with its lower premium uptake and cheaper subscription costs ($1.45 pm).  

That massive gap shows just how crucial premium adoption is for boosting revenue, especially in higher-paying markets like Norway.   

Places like Japan (70%), Hungary (69%), Taiwan (68%), France (67%), and Chile (65%) still have room to expand their premium streaming base. These are the regions to watch as they start to shift more users from ad-supported to premium, which could drive the next big growth of revenue for streaming platforms.  

Record Resurgence 

Forget the headlines claiming a 33% drop—the reality is that vinyl sales are up 6.2% in 2024, continuing a 16-year growth streak. The allure of vinyl isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about creating a deeper connection between music and fans. Holding a record in your hands offers something streaming simply doesn't give. For artists and fans, vinyl is more than music—a physical, collectible experience. 

Artists like Taylor Swift are pushing the format’s resurgence with exclusive releases like her Lullaby Album Vol. 2, driving fan engagement and making vinyl a must-have for collectors. These special editions are fueling the growth, with vinyl sales rising 21.7% in the first half of 2023 alone. 

But who’s buying all these records? The demographics may surprise you - or it may include you.  

It’s not just older generations —millennials and Gen Z are directly contributing to vinyl’s revival. According to a Key Production survey, 59% of surveyed 18-24 year olds listened to physical music. For these ‘younger’ fans, vinyl represents a way to own a piece of music history, offering something tangible in an increasingly digital world.

Limited editions, colored vinyl, collectors, and 'rares' are things of tangible beauty.

Vinyl isn’t just great for fans—it's also a major win for artists. Independent musicians use vinyl to engage their audiences, while major artists monetize superfans with exclusive releases. For many artists, vinyl sales contribute significantly more revenue than streaming. In comparison, a digital stream pays just a fraction of a cent.

The vinyl boom allows artists to tap into dedicated, paying fans willing to invest more in physical albums and merch. As long as artists keep offering unique, high-quality releases, vinyl’s growth isn’t going anywhere.

How many records do you own? Or have you been thinking about getting into analog?

What is Your Favorite Movie Soundtrack? 

One of the best things about music is its variety, and Rolling Stone’s top 100 movie soundtracks got us thinking about our own favorites (and we’ll be sharing on Instagram!). Soundtracks shape what we are watching and are one of the most important parts of a movie. It’s the soundtrack that takes us on a journey – even when we’re not really paying attention, the music is doing some heavy lifting.

Purple Rain (1984) ranked #1 for Rolling Stone, blending rock, funk, and soul, and we figure this one is a permanent fixture on most lists. Saturday Night Fever (1977), at #5, still defines the disco era, while Pulp Fiction (1994) comes in at #7, with this one the music and the movie were ‘one’.  

Over on Reddit, brain_my_damage_HJS called Pulp Fiction one of the most iconic soundtracks of all time—and we agree. This might also be one of our top picks! 

A soundtrack with pure nostalgia is The Graduate (1967) at #8. It's a masterclass in introspection, with Simon & Garfunkel’s tracks that people fell in love with. Redditor tomhagen singled it out and said, it has “a lot of wonderful Simon & Garfunkel songs”. 

Then there’s The Bodyguard (1992), featuring Whitney Houston’s monumental vocals and a story that millions still watch today. Reddit user KickerofTale nailed it, naming this as one of their all-time favorites—because, honestly, "I Will Always Love You" never loses its power. 

Reddit also brought up some personal faves that didn’t make it to the top of Rolling Stone’s list. periphescent shouted out Tron: Legacy for Daft Punk’s brilliant, futuristic score, while gaspingforlove added Lost Highway and Trainspotting to the mix.  

gmag76 replied, saying Trainspotting was “A part of my 90s life sound track.” (sic).  

kfudnapaa posted their answer: O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and replies rolled in, including this one from JacobDCRoss: “It revived interest in American music among the general population (of the US). The Soggy Bottom Boys performed on Letterman. It was absolutely incredible.” 

We’ll share our top movie soundtracks on Instagram soon - so go follow us and keep your eyes peeled!

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