Zero-sum game

A “zero-sum game” is a situation in which one person or group can win or gain from something only by causing another person or group to lose from it. Taylor Swift’s new recordings are extremely popular; some are achieving even more streams than when they were first released. But it’s not a “zero-sum game.” Streams of the original recordings are also strong. If Taylor’s music were a “zero-sum game,” the new recordings achieving more streams would mean that the old recordings would have to be receiving less, but that’s not the case. Dividing up the budget is a “zero-sum game,” when one area gains part of the budget, another area must lose part of its budget.