Final answer:
The statement is false. Downloads generally produce more revenue on a per-play or per-download basis compared to streaming due to the payment model differences between the two forms of distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "On a revenue-per-play basis, streaming is far more lucrative than downloads" is false. In terms of revenue per individual play or download, downloads typically generate more income than streaming. This is because downloads are usually paid transactions where the consumer pays a set price to own a copy of a song or album, whereas streaming services pay artists a small amount of money each time a song is played. The payouts for streaming are often fractions of a cent per stream, which means it usually takes a large number of plays to equal the income from a single download.