TRANSFORMATIONS IN MUSIC CONSUMPTION IN THE STREAMING ERA: FROM ALBUM LOGIC TO FRAGMENTED LISTENING

Abstract

In recent decades, the advancement of digital technologies and the consolidation of streaming platforms have significantly transformed the ways music is accessed, circulated, and consumed. Services such as Spotify and Apple Music have expanded access to vast music catalogs, allowing millions of tracks to be available on demand. In this context, a shift can be observed in the cultural practices associated with music listening, characterized by the fragmentation of consumption and the increasing centrality of playlists and algorithmic recommendations. Traditionally, the experience of listening to music was associated with the album as a structuring unit of artistic production, in which songs were organized according to an aesthetic logic defined by the artists. In the digital environment, however, music increasingly circulates as individual tracks, often consumed in isolation or inserted into thematic playlists. This article discusses the transformations in music consumption practices in the streaming era, reflecting on how digital platforms reconfigure listening practices and the relationship between audiences and musical works. Based on a theoretical approach grounded in studies of digital culture and cultural consumption, the analysis examines how elements such as algorithms, random playback, and playlist curation contribute to the fragmentation of the contemporary musical experience, especially among younger audiences.