A Message from our CEO
2021 was another year of challenges and progress for the music industry and throughout society. The ongoing pandemic continues to affect lives and livelihoods, but the rollout of effective vaccines brought live music back and we understand that even in the face of new variants and uncertainty the tools are there to bring us to the other side.
We saw Congress pass the American Rescue Plan, which included essential economic aid to members of the creative community. And we saw more fans subscribe to streaming services, listen to more music, discover new favorites and reconnect with beloved music from the past. The challenges of the pandemic remain on the horizon, and we know better than to guess at what 2022 will bring. Yet we continue to see dynamism, resilience, and strength throughout the industry that creates cause for optimism.
The heart of that optimism remains the incredible, vital, and beautiful music being created by artists and songwriters. Without their music there would be no streaming services. When that music is combined with the incredible innovations of streaming services, connections between fans and creators are formed, value is created, and opportunities arise.
As we did last year, I want to highlight just a few of the examples of the innovative products and experiences that were introduced this year by Amazon, Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify and YouTube. Be sure to check to check out how your favorite streaming platform is transforming the industry, and don’t forget to tune into our latest playlist – DiMA Staff’s Top Picks of 2021.
– Garrett Levin
CEO, Digital Media Association
@garrettlevin | @digitalmediausa
