There have been several changes in the music industry throughout the years. More often than not, the impact of these changes have the potential to be quite controversial. Although the commercial use of music has been around for a relatively long time, it continues to be rather controversial today. The concept has come to be acknowledged as typical for musicians, but should it be supported? Corporate use of music can be encouraged due to the increasing opportunity it provides, the increasing risk and cost of other methods of acquiring recognition (touring), and the increasing popularity of streaming and downloading services online.

The commercial use of music is primarily considered a necessity. However, some may view it as a method of gaining exposure and revenue from advertising. For example, according to Source 3: The New Necessity in the Music Business, by Stacia Coates: "Some bands have thoroughly embranced branding and see it more as an opportunity rather than a necessity." Making an appearance in an advertisement can bolster a musician's exposure, in addition to the money they receive in the process. Several music groups have attained success with this sort of method. "For example, the highly sucessful pop group, the Black Eyed Peas, focuses on exposure before a paycheck. For years, they've allowed corporations to use their music..." says Source 3. If an artist takes several marketing deals with corporations, their revenue could significantly increase from both the exposure and paycheck. According to Source 1: The Changing Landscape of The Music Business, one of the most notable changes in the music industry has been the commercial use of music, and it continues to become more of a necessity and stand as a growing concept. Because advertising is now considered the norm, it isn't exactly looked down upon to capitalize upon it. Taking the opportunity to grow one's career can be very beneficial in the end.

"Years ago, when people still bought full albums and artists were paid a decent percentage of the sales, the idea of "selling out"...was seen as a sure-fire way to lose credibility..." says Source 3. Touring and album distribution used to be efficient and effective methods of gaining exposure and getting paid. Fans would be eager to pay for albums thanks to the populatity and recognition gained from tours. However, over time the cost of doing so has increased whilst the reward for doing so has decreased drastically. "By the end of the tour, his band may end up losing more money than it makes." states Source 3. This being said, many musicians have shifted away from the use of these methods in favor of more commercial methods. According to Source 3, the use of music in advertising is now regarded as the norm, even a necessity, despite being considered taboo in the past, due to changes in the industry. The corporate method has risen to the top due to it's lack of complexity and efficiency. It's quite simply just a more profitable and reliable method of acquiring what one needs to succeed in a musicial career, so it's no real suprise that it's gained the traction it has.

The internet has had a drastic impact on the music industry. It has turned out to be one of the most significant and impactful factors affecting the manner in which musicians profit. This factor comes in the form of music streaming services, which have basically halved the value of albums and the effectiveness of tours. "The main problem facing many musicians is that payments-per-stream are much lower than what a musician would receive from a download." says Source 1. These services have altered, and sometimes even destroyed the business model for certain musicians in particular. To cope, many have resorted to corporate deals in order to receive the money that they would have received from an album sale. This is necessary for many musical artists due to the fact that the value of albums, downloads, and music itself has detoriated as a result of these services. According to Source 1,  it requires a musician to have attained over four million streams of a song in order to make minimum wage - as opposed to only selling five thousand albums. Numbers such as these provide a perfect example as to why various musicians have decided to resort to corporate deals in order to make a living off of their musical career. In the end, these changes in the industry have caused it to be a necessity. Musicians could now struggle to maintain a proper income without the usage of commercial advertising. "It's clear that for artists big or small, trying to maintain credibility while struggling to sustain a career is certainly tricky." says Source 1.

Some may say that overexposure and corporate use can make a musician become stale quickly. "Fans simply lost interest because they heard his music everywhere they went." says Source 2. However, there have been few instances in which exposure has been a negative thing for an artist. To give an example, according to Source 3, a major portion of the Blacked Eyed Peas' success has been derived from corporate advertising.

In conclusion, shifts in the musical industry have always played a significant role in the lives of musicians. These sorts of changes have also changed the manner in which these musicians make a living. There are several factors that have caused music's corporate usage to become both more popular and acceptable. The exposure that can be attained from it, the decreasing popularity of tours and albums, and the increasing popularity of music streaming services online are all responsible for music's newfound popular corporate usage.