Why Subscriptions Could Insulate the Music Market in 2020

In a chaotic first quarter of 2020, monthly subscription fees are providing rights owners and creators with a predictable flow of royalties that helps insulate them from financial shocks. Of course, royalties will fluctuate if subscribers temporarily or permanently cancel their accounts at Spotify, Apple Music or other ad-free digital services. But in the economy of the coronavirus era, rules for social distancing are primarily hurting purchases of digital downloads, CDs and LPs, not streaming s