Is There Too Much Music? w/ Milana Lewis | Billboard On The Record

This episode of Billboard On The Record features host Kristin Robinson in conversation with Milana Lewis, CEO and co-founder of Stem. They examine the implications of the massive volume of music—over 100,000 songs—being uploaded to streaming platforms daily (0:00 - 1:47).

Key Discussion Topics:

• The History of Over-Saturation (0:03 - 8:00): Milana Lewis traces the current state of the industry back to the post-Napster era, noting that the rise of social media, digital piracy, and the evolution of YouTube and SoundCloud transformed how music is distributed and consumed.
• The Impact of AI and Functional Music (11:32 - 16:00, 47:00 - 49:00): The discussion explores the rise of AI-generated music and "functional" audio (like white noise), debating whether these should be valued or monetized the same as human-made music.
• Artist Discovery and Marketing (17:22 - 27:14): Lewis argues that while it is technically easier to release music today, it is harder to be discovered. She highlights that artists are now forced to become media creators and marketers to cut through the noise, often "fighting volume with volume" through viral clips and social media strategies.
• Streaming Fraud and Algorithmic Manipulation (20:36 - 31:44): The pair discusses the prevalence of bot farms and bad actors trying to game the system, leading to a discussion on how streaming services use data to detect unnatural patterns.
• The Future of Streaming (38:52 - 46:00): They touch upon Streaming 2.0 initiatives, such as royalty thresholds—which Lewis supports as a way to prioritize "career artists" over hobbyists—and how labels are shifting their focus toward distribution.

Advice for Artists:

• Intentionality: Lewis emphasizes that artists should aim to be intentional with their rollouts rather than just chasing volume (42:33).
• Picking a Distributor: When selecting a partner, she advises signing with a specific person or team rather than just a company, ensuring they provide the specific type of support (marketing, international reach, or financial investment) that the artist needs (46:00 - 52:00).