Top 1% of artists account for 80% of music streaming

Stars like Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi and Harry Styles have a tight grip on listening habits and the money that flows from them
Stars like Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi and Harry Styles have a tight grip on listening habits and the money that flows from them
MARK HORTON/GETTY; ROBERTO RICCIUTI/REDFERNS; KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES

The top 1 per cent of musicians account for 80 per cent of all listening on streaming services, the most detailed study yet into the industry has revealed as it called for research into the role of algorithms.

The report, released days after the competition authorities were asked to investigate the power of the big three record labels on the streaming market, indicates the stranglehold the top tier of artists such as Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa have on digital music listening habits and finances.

While streaming through services such as Spotify now accounts for more than 80 per cent of music consumption, musicians and composers have repeatedly raised concerns about the distribution of the £1.7 billion revenues.

They also told a recent parliamentary