Core Time Series (1956–2026)
How companies, people, laws, technologies, genres, and events shaped revenue, artist income, and the fan experience. Revenue by category (stacked, left axis, $B) and total industry gross, with the fan Experience Index (right axis, 0–100) staying near-flat while the business swung wildly. Vertical markers are events (blue=technology, amber=legal, pink=cultural).
Average artist NET income by tier modeled
Top 10% = ≥90th percentile of gross; Mid = 50–90th; Bottom 50% = below median. Net of commissions/recoupment/costs. Log scale. Method: artist_tier_methodology.
Artist catalog & population growth
Catalog tracks and artist population (millions). Anchors: ~100M+ tracks, ~11–12M artists (2023–24).
Companies in-industry by category modeled
Majors consolidated 6→3; distributors and AI vendors exploded. Log scale.
Experience Index components modeled
Access & portability rose steeply; quality, usability, personalization, immersion lagged — so the composite stays near-flat.
From Files to Experiences
US recorded-music revenue mix. Streaming replaced ownership; the fan experience layer barely moved — the Pow3r wedge.
Source: RIAA US Revenue Database (observed). Values USD billions, estimated retail.
Trends
Global market vs streaming
IFPI Global Music Report 2024/2025 (observed).
Streaming share of global revenue
IFPI (observed). Share of total trade revenue.
Projections modeled
Global recorded music to 2030
Observed IFPI + modeled CAGR. Labeled estimates only, not observed.
Paid subscribers to 2030 (M)
Observed IFPI + modeled CAGR.