The arrival of 'Spotify' in Pakistan is good news for music listeners in Pakistan. Not only will listeners get to listen to their favorite songs in the best recordings through this digital music service, but it will also make it easier for music fans to discover new songs.
Spotify is popular all over the world because it collects songs. But the question is, will his arrival benefit music makers in Pakistan? And in a country where people prefer a free streaming service like YouTube to others, how much of a game-changer will Spotify come?
What is Spotify?
Spotify is one of the most popular streaming services globally, allowing people to listen to their favorite songs and start their radio station. Along with the songs, videos can also be viewed on the Spotify application, and the cost for all of them is not too long.
If you want to use Spotify for only a short time, you can do it for free. But there are different packages for music lovers that are not too heavy on the pocket. You can also easily check your friends' 'playlist.'
The Spotify application also suggests songs to suit your tastes. Another important feature of Spotify is its uninterrupted ease of use.
Bilal Maqsood, a member of the musical band Strings and creator of Velo Cook Studios, believes that Spotify is the most 'user-friendly' application for music streaming, making it easy for you to discover all kinds of songs new or old.
According to him, if I listen to four songs on Spotify today, it will voluntarily tell me 20 more songs. He will also make a playlist for me and, in a way, become my friend. No other streaming service or application does this.
Why did Spotify come to Pakistan so late?
Claudius Bowler, managing director of Spotify, says his company wants to be available in every market in the world. Still, there are many issues to consider before entering a new market like Pakistan.
Speaking to VOA, he said that Spotty had long wanted to work with Pakistani artists. But it's not just about launching an application. It was also important to get the rights to these songs from all the artists on it.
According to Claudius Bowler, “We strive to provide the best service to the tastes of each listener. We provide all kinds of support to the creators, spreading their work around the globe.
He said that Spotify has so far introduced 800,000 artists to customers around the world.
"Like every streaming service, we want to be everywhere," he said. "To enter the Pakistani market, Spotify needed contracts from all artists and music companies to give listeners access to local music as well as other options can also be given. "
Claudius Bowler says that this is the biggest reason for his late arrival in Pakistan, but he says that now he has entered the market and he will try to make the music industry benefit from the presence of Spotify.
How will Pakistani musicians benefit from the arrival of Spotify?
Pakistan is one of the few countries where music is made, but its creators do not get their rightful 'Royalty' in the same way as in other countries. Here the creators have to follow them to get their due from the local platforms.
Bilal Maqsood says that we do not have a system for those who create and upload new songs regarding Royalty.
According to him, "Radio has never paid Royalties here. The same is true of other platforms. Artists are not heard. But now there is an international platform to compete with these local platforms, which It's okay in its dealings. Because of that, the local systems here will have to improve their game to take their place. "
Singer Natasha Baig also believes that the arrival of Spotify in Pakistan will greatly improve the music field's condition.
He hopes that with the advent of Spotify, Pakistani musicians and singers will benefit from both royalty payments and international exposure.
'Importance' of Pakistani Music
Talking to VOA, Natasha Baig said that after the entry of Spotify in Pakistan, where new songs and songwriters will be found, it will be easier for Pakistani musicians to tap the international market.
Bilal Maqsood also believes that the arrival of Spotify in Pakistan shows that the Pakistani market is also important to him. According to him, since Spotify is an international platform, Pakistani music's presence indicates that our music is in demand all over the world.