In recent years platforms like Spotify and Netflix are giving access to free music and movies in order to attract a wider audience. While this development increased the exposure of artists, I believe it is doing more damage because these companies are monopolizing the market.
Online sellers that offer free access to their content give access to everyone that needs it. Therefore, the music or movies they share are popularized quickly. This is an excellent apportunity for artists who are trying to get discovered, and show their work to harge amount of people. For instance, a new artist who posts his music on Spotify has far more chance in getting listeners than publishing it by himself.
With that being said, these companies are reling on advertisements on the platform to earn income, and most of the money that is made by the platform does not reach the artist. Moreover, creators that are already famous will have less insentive to sell their work online since they are not in need of exposure, and they earn a lot less. One example of this is artists that reach millions of people, but generate a lot less income from selling their art online.
In conclusion, while offering free content is beneficial for people and small artists, I argue it is harming prominent music and movie creators, and restricting options for users.