Spotify has announced a new feature that lets listeners know which artists they discovered before they became popular. Named ‘Found them First’, the service will give music lovers bragging rights, finally putting an end to the ultimate hipster debate of who discovered that band or genre first.

After years of growth, the music streaming market has reached a turning point; Beats Music and Rdio have closed, while Spotify is facing up to higher licensing fees. Deezer has partnered with BandPage to let users to buy tickets and merch from artists, but can it please both fans and musicians?

Artists once received patronage from wealthy individuals who either believed in their work or wanted to ride on their coattails. Now, enterprising artists are looking online for support through crowdfunding services like Patreon. How is it connecting creators with their fan bases?

Discovering new music was once a preserve of A&R scouts at major labels. But with unsigned acts now playing to anyone with an internet connection, how can music fans be sure of who was there first? A new Spotify feature is quantifying ‘cool’, giving music geeks the bragging rights they deserve.