by Will Riley & Rhea Mathew
Project Overview:
Music streaming platforms present listening through visible metrics such as play counts, likes, and followers, shaping perceptions of popularity and cultural relevance. However, the financial structures underpinning these systems remain largely invisible. While listeners directly contribute to an artist’s revenue through streaming, the monetary value generated by a song is rarely communicated, creating a disconnect between audience engagement and economic reality.
PlayRate proposes a speculative feature for music streaming platforms that makes this hidden layer visible. The feature introduces a new metric displaying the total cumulative revenue generated by a track, shifting focus away from play counts towards financial impact. Embedded within a familiar interface, it integrates seamlessly into existing user experiences.
In addition, PlayRate allows artists to publicly allocate portions of their earnings to charitable causes, making these contributions visible to listeners. This creates a direct link between consumption and impact, reframing streaming as both an economic and ethical act.
By exposing revenue and donation choices, PlayRate transforms listening into a form of social signalling. It raises questions around transparency, authorship, and public image, asking whether visible generosity remains authentic or becomes performative within the attention economy.
