The music industry has more data than ever—so why does it understand fans less than ever? This article explores the consequences of getting fans wrong, and how platform thinking and short-term decisions are quietly eroding long-term growth.

The music business sent a very clear signal last year. Most missed it. Record labels are no longer purely music companies. Increasingly they’re rights-based investment vehicles, optimised for portfolio performance, capital efficiency and yield. That’s not necessarily bad. But it changes everything about how artists and managers should think about strategy, fans and growth. 

A few thoughts on what this shift means and why smart managers are already adapting.

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