Lost Credits, Lost Revenue - Music Metadata Challenges and Potential Solutions for Fair Music Remuneration and Gender Representation

Abstract

The digitalization of music has undeniably reshaped the music industry’s landscape. The ways we create, consume, and share music have evolved, particularly with the rise of music streaming services. Although these platforms offer seamless access to vast music libraries, they also introduce substantial challenges, specifically in the area of metadata management.

This thesis investigates current challenges in music metadata, with a focus on inaccurate data and the absence of gender metadata. Through a case study analysis of two initiatives, Fair MusE and GenderMusicTech, it explores how faulty and missing gender metadata affect the music industry and what solutions are currently being proposed. Drawing on a theoretical framework that incorporates a literature review and a discourse analysis, this thesis critically examines metadata’s role in shaping visibility and representation within digital music platforms. Using the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF), this thesis presents Fair MusE’s policy-driven approach to metadata reform and GenderMusicTech’s technical proposal for integrating gender metadata tags. The findings highlight the sociotechnical implications of metadata design and underscore the importance of inclusive metadata practices in fostering equity within the music ecosystem.