1. Streaming is a zero-sum proposition -- neither a help nor a hindrance to the music industry. Many up-and-coming and/or independent artists have gained popularity through streaming in a way that would have either been impossible or much harder than before. Record label profits have decreased in some ways, but that has been offset in other ways. Keep in mind that long before streaming and file-sharing, people would simply tape songs from the radio. There was always a way to get free music. Also, the sales universe for a single is literally double what it was 20 years ago. The biggest selling singles of today might sell in the 7-9 million range, double-to-triple what was possible in the 90s. Oh, and labels no longer have to deal with chargebacks/returns for singles. . 2. A #1 single is still the ultimate achievement for an artist. . 3. Streaming should be counted for the singles charts, which are charts which measure song POPULARITY. Streaming should not be counted for albums, b/c it distorts the data we're looking to see -- how many people actually bought a particular album as an album.