EU study on discoverability

The European Commission published a study on 8 April 2026 that examines how people discover music and books on streaming platforms. (culture.ec.europa.eu) The final report was prepared for the Commission by a Panteia‑led consortium, with the manuscript completed in March 2026 and contributions from KEA, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, DELab and others. (cultureactioneurope.org) Researchers combined desk research, sectoral analysis, data mapping, interviews, focus groups and a Europe‑wide consumer survey of more than 400 respondents. (op.europa.eu) The study concentrates on music and books and analyses recommender systems, editorial curation, metadata quality and platform mechanics as factors that shape what audiences see and hear. (cultureactioneurope.org) The Commission’s briefing says discoverability now determines which works “rise above the digital noise,” and the report sets out six policy action areas including data, governance, skills, audience measures, research and funding. (culture.ec.europa.eu) The report reports that about 38% of tracks in top streaming charts across European countries are by European artists, with roughly 24% from each country’s domestic repertoire, while exposure remains concentrated among superstar acts. (musically.com) The Bulgarian NGO Music Equality cited the study to argue that platforms — naming Spotify among others — sideline smaller, non‑English markets, calling the observed patterns a form of “erasure.” (musicequality.org) Policymakers will discuss the study at a Brussels event on 20 April 2026, and the report explicitly recommends improving metadata, transparency and platform curation practices to boost visibility for national and independent works. (culture.ec.europa.eu)