David Alpert
Streaming Economics Analyst
Data analyst focused on streaming platform economics, royalty structures, and revenue modeling for the recorded music industry.
About David
David Alpert is a former data scientist who spent five years building royalty forecasting models at a major music distributor before turning to industry journalism. His analytical background gives him a unique ability to translate complex streaming economics into clear, actionable insights. David has built proprietary models that track per-stream payout fluctuations across major platforms and has been consulted by independent distributors and artist managers seeking to understand revenue trends. His writing at Like Hot Cakes combines quantitative rigor with plain-language explanations of the financial plumbing behind the streaming economy.
David Alpert's articles are written from direct professional experience and reviewed by at least one additional team member for accuracy before publication. All credentials listed on this page are verified by our editorial team. Read our editorial standards →
Coverage Breakdown
Articles by David (5)
The Vinyl Paradox: Why Physical Sales Are Booming in the Streaming Age
Understanding the surprising resurgence of vinyl records and what it reveals about music consumption psychology.
· 13 min readStreaming & DigitalThe Spatial Audio Revolution: Why Immersive Music Is More Than a Gimmick
How Dolby Atmos and spatial audio are reshaping music production, distribution, and listener engagement.
· 12 min readStreaming & DigitalAnalyzing YouTube's Subscription Price Rise: Impact on Streaming and Artist Earnings
Exploring how YouTube's recent subscription price increase affects the streaming industry and artist revenue.
· 8 min readIndustry AnalysisThe Great Recovery: Unpacking Recorded Music's Unprecedented Financial Resurgence
Analyzing the factors behind the industry's financial resurgence.
· 16 min readStreaming & DigitalFollow the Money: Tracing a Single Stream From Listener to Artist Payout
Tracing the money flow from listener subscription to artist payout.
· 14 min read