Artists once received patronage from wealthy individuals who either believed in their work or wanted to ride on their coattails. Now, enterprising artists are looking online for support through crowdfunding services like Patreon. How is it connecting creators with their fan bases?

Taylor Swift’s album 1989 – which sold 1.287 million copies in its debut week – was leaked in early November 2014. But no fans were prepared for the announcement that a companion app was to follow, letting them dive headfirst into the ‘Blank Space’ music video.

Discovering new music was once a preserve of A&R scouts at major labels. But with unsigned acts now playing to anyone with an internet connection, how can music fans be sure of who was there first? A new Spotify feature is quantifying ‘cool’, giving music geeks the bragging rights they deserve.

In another example of how the music industry is changing, particularly when it comes to marketing, Usher has collaborated with streaming service Tidal to release a video for new single ‘Chains’. But it isn’t a regular music video; it’s interactive, and it comes with a powerful message.