Success on Spotify Is Decided by Secret Black Boxes – Artists from Czechia Face an Uphill Battle
28. 8. 2025 online platforms music industry
Spotify began as an alternative to the corporate music industry, promising democratization and global fame accessible to anyone. The reality, however, is far more bleak. Researchers Miloš Hroch and Petr Szczepanik from the CIRG team point out that cultural platforms have primarily led to a concentration of power and monopolization.
Miloš Hroch and Petr Szczepanik presented the results of their research on barriers to the digital distribution of Czech music abroad in an interview for ČT Art. You can read the interview here.
Cirg - about
CIRG – the Cultural Industries Research Group focuses on research into cultural and media industries, particularly on current issues, challenges, and conflicts arising from tensions between intellectual property law, the business models of cultural industries, the digitalization and platformization of cultural sectors, and changing consumer habits. The group’s name is an acronym of its English title, Cultural Industries Research Group. CIRG is an informal association of experts from media studies, intellectual property law, media law, media ethics, cultural economics and cultural management, sociology of culture, and data analysis. The group operates on the basis of project-based funding through applied research projects (TAČR, NAKI, EEA and Norway Grants, OP JAK Intersectoral Cooperation), basic research projects (GAČR, ZIF Bielefeld, OP VVV Excellent Research, DFG), as well as contract research (State Cinematography Fund, Association of Audiovisual Producers).
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Screen Industries in Central and Eastern Europe Research Group
SIRG
Charles University
Department of Film Studies
Lab head: Petr Szczepanik
sirg@ff.cuni.cz
PhD
We offer the opportunity to pursue doctoral study focused on developing and carrying out your own research projects in the field of cultural and media industries. The programme can be undertaken at Palacký University Olomouc, Charles University, or the Prague University of Economics and Business under the supervision of leading experts in media studies, cultural economics, digital ethics, and copyright law.
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