Estimating Global Bilateral Music Flows in the Streaming Age: The Role of Distance Measures

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between bilateral music flows and consumer preferences in the streaming music era. A set of distance measures between countries to account for their connection in various dimensions is proposed and evaluated on the Spotify charts data during 2017-2021, considering the impact of digitization. The analysis shows that while traditional distance measures such as geographical proximity remain essential, cultural, economic and social distances are also significant factors. A composite measure is suggested to be more appropriate for accounting for consumer preferences in music streaming. The study provides insights into how the rise of music streaming has changed the pattern of international music demand.