Art vs Commerce
The challenge in decision making
Everyday all artists and businesses in specialist music are working in a state of flux, making decisions in the spectrum between Art on one side and Commerce on the other. But how can the creation of Art ever be a commercial reality? Surely, Art is an expression of emotion, of personal feeling and vision, not a commercial pursuit. To purely focus on Art will most likely negate any commercial opportunity, especially in a world that is built as it is today. And, to make Art for commercial reasons defeats the object in the first place.
The challenge is particularly evident in the context of jazz and streaming platforms. Jazz, with its rich history and emphasis on long-form improvisation, clashes with the streaming economy's preference for quick, engaging content that can generate revenue within the first 30 seconds of playback. This system puts pressure on artists to either conform to the demands of DSPs and their audiences or to remain true to their artistic vision, potentially at the expense of financial reward. For some artists though, there can be a natural overlap, but for those who don’t, what is there an alternative?