For the last decade, the music industry has taught artists to chase one number above all else: streams . Streams are visible, comparable, and easy to celebrate. They are also fragile. What many artists discover after a few releases is that streams spike, decay, and reset. Fans, on the other hand, compound. This article breaks down the real difference between streams and fans, why dependency on editorial playlists has diminishing returns, and what actually builds long-term mom