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R_www.businessinsider.com_sai 2015 00341.txt.txt

#IT'S OFFICIAL: Music streaming is finally bigger than downloads We've just hit a massive milestone in the evolution of the music industry: Re/code reports that for the first time, a record label is reporting higher revenues from music streaming than paid downloads. Warner Music group has announced that its streaming revenues have passed those from digital downloads. CEO Stephen Cooper said"the rate of this growth has made it abundantly clear that in years to come, streaming will be the way people enjoy music,"according to Re/code.""We'll continue to collaborate with our streaming partners to expand their businesses, and more importantly, to ensure that copyright owners, artists, and songwriters receive appropriate value for their work.""Paid downloads have long been the primary way listeners consume music, with downloads overtaking physical sales in the US (by volume) back in 2012. But downloads have gone into decline as faster internet connections have allowed the rise of streaming services, often offering users free access to libraries of millions of tracks, financially supported by ads. This shift toward free music has left a sour taste in some artists'mouths, who feel the ad-supported model doesn't properly value their work. Singer Taylor swift had a public spat with Spotify, one of the largest streaming services arguing that"there should be an inherent value placed on art "and that she"didn't see that happening, perception-wise,"on the platform. Similarly, rapper Jay z recently acquired and relaunched the streaming service Tidal, which does not offer a free, ad-supported tier. The company aims to differentiate itself because it is owned"artist "and offers high-quality music to users who pay for the most expensive tier. This shift also underscores why Apple's expected launch of its own streaming service is important to the company. Through itunes, Apple has dominated long the digital music business. But as digital downloads decline it risks losing its industry-leading position to challengers like Spotify, Tidal, and others. Though Apple is yet to make an official announcement, it is expected later this year to relaunch the Beats Music streaming service it acquired. The Cupertino company recently poached high-profile DJ Zane Lowe from BBC Radio 1, along with a number of other BBC employees. A source with knowledge of the matter also told us Apple was trying to persuade musicians to put together curated streams and playlists and that Lowe was the"mastermind"behind the project t

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