Note that quality is hyperefficient and falls almost entirely on the artist. Even the best data analysis in the world can’t make up for a product that doesn’t appeal. But it can tell you why your product isn’t selling as well as your competitors, and what you can do to make incremental improvements from a business perspective. And that makes data incredibly valuable, and a worthwhile pursuit — it will undoubtedly unlock a plethora of new business models for music, and allow artists to figure out their own optimal model.