The Day I Learned the Value of a Single Purchase
A few months ago, a piano composer I admire shared something that broke my heart.
He told me that from 1,000 streams of his new solo piano music, he earned just a few cents — not even enough for a cup of coffee.
Yet, when a fan bought one piece directly from his website for just $1.99, it gave him more support than all those streams combined.
That’s when I realized:
Buying directly from a composer is more than a transaction — it’s a gift of life to their art.
1. You Support the Artist’s Creative Journey
When you stream on big platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, the artist gets a fraction of a cent per play. For example:
- Spotify: about $0.003–$0.005 per stream
- Apple Music: about $0.01 per stream
- Direct website purchase: often 100x more income per song than a single stream
Imagine this:
If you buy a $2 piano track directly, it’s like giving the artist the same support they’d get from hundreds of streams.
For musicians who pour months into composing, recording, mixing, and mastering, that difference means they can:
- Invest in better recording equipment
- Hire talented collaborators
- Spend more time creating instead of worrying about bills
Buying directly says:
“I believe in your art. Keep going.”
2. You Get Higher Quality and Exclusive Access
Streaming platforms often compress audio, reducing sound richness. But when you download from the composer’s site, you often get:
- High-resolution audio (lossless files that capture every note and emotion)
- Bonus tracks or unreleased versions
- PDF sheet music for learning at home
- Personal thank-you messages
Think of it like buying a painting from the artist’s studio instead of a postcard print.
If you love emotional piano music, the details matter — the soft pedal textures, the natural resonance, the slight human imperfections that make the performance alive.
Try this experiment: Listen to the same piece on a streaming app, then download a high-quality file from the artist’s website. You’ll hear the difference instantly.
3. You Build a Personal Connection With the Music
When you buy directly, you’re not just getting music — you’re building a relationship with the person behind it.
Many composers (especially in the contemporary piano music world) send:
- Personalized thank-you emails
- Stories behind the piece
- Early access to new releases
You become part of their inner circle — the community that helps their music exist.
And music feels different when you know the story.
A lullaby isn’t just “track #4” — it becomes the song the composer wrote after rocking their baby to sleep.
Have you ever felt a piece of music heal you after a long day?
Imagine knowing the person who created it, and telling them exactly how it helped you.
4. You Keep Independent Music Alive
The truth is, very few musicians can live off streaming alone.
According to a 2023 music industry report, only 1% of artists earn more than $10,000/year from streaming. The rest rely on:
- Live performances
- Teaching piano tutorials or beginner piano tips
- Selling sheet music and downloads directly
- Private supporters
Buying from a composer’s website is like watering a small plant in a big forest — it’s your drop that keeps it alive.
And when that artist thrives, you get more beautiful music, more lessons for those learning piano at home, and more moments of peace and joy for families around the world.
Why Not Just Stream?
Streaming is wonderful for discovering new music. It’s convenient, and it can help spread an artist’s work to more ears.
But if you truly love an artist — if their music brings you calm during stress, helps your kids sleep, or inspires you to practice piano — then streaming alone isn’t enough to keep them creating.
Think of streaming as a handshake.
Buying directly is a warm hug.
A Real-Life Example
When Gianluca Fronda released his piece In Mio Sogno, it quickly gained streams on Spotify and Apple Music.
But when he checked his streaming report, the total earnings were less than the cost of a sandwich.
Then a fan downloaded the track from his own website for $2.99. That one act gave more support than thousands of streams combined.
It wasn’t just about money — it was about motivation. That single purchase told him:
“Someone values my music enough to take that extra step.”
Discover more by Gianluca Fronda and support artists who pour their soul into every note.
How You Can Support
Here are a few simple ways to help keep beautiful solo piano music alive:
- Buy directly from the artist’s official website: Gianluca Fronda’s Store
- Purchase from Amazon Music (link here) or Apple Music (link here)
- Subscribe to their YouTube channels:
- Share their music with friends, family, and students
Music Is More Than Entertainment
For many, piano music is a safe space. It’s what plays in the background during:
- Quiet evenings at home
- Studying for exams
- Family dinners
- Moments of grief
- Celebrations of love
When you buy directly from a composer, you’re ensuring that these moments will keep having a soundtrack.
Music isn’t just sound — it’s emotion, memory, and connection.
Your Small Action Creates Big Change
Imagine if just 100 people each bought a $2 track from a composer’s site. That’s $200 — enough to cover:
- Studio time for the next recording
- Professional mastering for better sound quality
- Piano tuning for the perfect tone
That’s the kind of ripple effect your support creates.
Final Thoughts
Streaming has its place, and it will always be part of our musical lives.
But if you find a piece of solo piano music or contemporary piano music that touches your heart, consider going beyond the “play” button.
Buy directly from the composer’s website.
Download from Amazon or Apple Music.
Join their community and keep the music alive.
Because every note you hear started as a dream in someone’s heart.
And your support is what lets them keep dreaming.
Call-to-Action:
Visit Gianluca Fronda’s Store and bring home music that speaks to your soul. Every purchase helps create more art for the world.