![]() ![]() The popularity of mixtapes in the mid 2000s to mid 2010s ran counter to the traditional digital music distribution model, which was dominated by the major record labels. Generally speaking, they were digital-only albums released for free online, often including ‘borrowed’ beats from other artists. ![]() The mixtapes we’re referring to were predominately associated with hip hop music. By operating outside of the iTunes model instead of within it, a generation of mixtape artists was able to make an indelible and transformative impact on both music culture and the present day streaming landscape. Mixtapes, in the context of hip hop, were one such way to do this they were one of the most successful (and, as opposed to some others, legal) rebuttals of charging fans for digital music. Although this model lasted for about a decade, artists and listeners alike were quick to find ways to circumnavigate the iTunes ecosystem. But the iTunes pay-per-song model only made music more accessible to those willing to pay for it. It felt like overnight, music became infinitely more accessible. Suddenly, everyone was listening to digital mp3 versions of their favorite music on their computers or iPods rather than their CD or record players. The launch of iTunes in 2003 was music’s true digital revolution.
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