Something's happening to the music industry. We're not sure how it's going to shake out, but the world we knew has been turned on its head by streaming, face tats, and piracy. The Wild West days of mp3 blogs may be behind us, but there are plenty of knots to work out and areas to grow—even as revenue begins the long climb back towards CD-era cash flows.
Today's casual listener has more power than ever, even if they're spending less. Some of these revelations seem obvious once you see them written down—others are embarrassing relics of the past, somehow preserved through decades of outdated thinking (and in the case of the Grammys, sexism).
2018 is weird and wonderful, the only time in history where vinyl records and Cardi B coexist as the feel-good stories of the year. Here are 15 modern music facts to blow your mind.