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Writer's pictureGospel Connect SA

SINGLES OVER ALBUM - THE NEW NORMAL?

The era of CDs and DVDs has faded as the music industry fully embraces the digital mode of music distribution. With the closure of iconic music stores like Musica, artists now rely heavily on digital platforms to sell their music. This shift demands that every artist enhances their marketing strategies and bolsters their online presence.


But the question arises: are digital sales sufficient to sustain artists? Are streaming services generating enough revenue for them?


In the past, releasing albums was a significant milestone. Artists would build anticipation by releasing a single, creating a buzz, and then dropping the full album. However, a noticeable trend has emerged where many artists now prefer releasing singles over full albums.


We spoke with a music publisher who shed light on this trend. He mentioned that listeners rarely engage with full albums anymore; they tend to pick and choose songs, often skipping several tracks. As a result, many artists now release singles or EPs, allowing these to gain traction before considering a full album release. Some artists have abandoned the album format entirely, opting to stick to singles.


So, what does this mean for the future of music releases? Are we witnessing the decline of album releases in favor of singles? Or is it a matter of personal preference?


This shift also challenges artists to create high-quality albums that captivate listeners from start to finish. If an artist believes in the strength of their album, they should release it in its entirety. Otherwise, releasing singles with enough time to gain popularity before moving on to the next may be the way forward.


The digital landscape is undoubtedly complex. Some artists have even resorted to distributing their music on USB drives, raising the question: why not advocate for the return of physical copies? Navigating the digital music business is not easy!


We'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you prefer singles or full albums? Share your views in the comments section below!

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1 Comment


Siphe Sibiya
Siphe Sibiya
Jun 20

An album for sure! A body of work! If artists feel that people pick and choose songs, they should find an effective way for listeners to engage with their work. The whole message of the album. Maybe the error is with artists? Do they, themselves understand why an album is released? How are albums produced? How do you approach the release of an album? These are just some of my own personal viewpoints.

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