The Changing Role and Function of Music Charts in the Contemporary Music Economy

Abstract

This chapter addresses the question of how Australian-based music professionals perceived the changing role and function of music charts in the contemporary music economy following the epochal moment in 2017 when streaming was first included in the Australian Recording Industry Association charts. By investigating the impact of music streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music on patterns of taste making in Australian popular music culture shortly following this historical moment, this chapter examines how music streaming services changed the cultural ecology of music in Australia at this time. In doing so, this chapter contributes to our understanding of the impact that northern hemi..