Final answer:
The financial returns artists receive from streaming platforms C) depend on the artist's popularity, as popular artists typically have more streams and can leverage their fanbase for other revenue sources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding the financial returns artists receive from services such as Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify, the answer to the student's question is C) Depends on the artist's popularity.
While streaming platforms have indeed revolutionized the music industry, surveys and financial reports suggest that popular artists with a large following tend to benefit more significantly from streaming revenues compared to emerging or niche artists.
This disparity is partly because streaming revenue is largely based on the number of streams an artist receives, which is inherently tied to their popularity and the size of their fanbase.
Moreover, artists who are able to command fan loyalty may have some pricing power for other products such as concert tickets and merchandise, indicating a broader impact of popularity on financial outcomes in the music industry.