Spotify announces that artists and labels will be able to select specific tracks for its algorithms to prioritize in exchange for being paid a lower royalty rate
I've seen some indie artists pretty upset about this over the last few days. Quite a few of them are concerned (probably correctly) that labels will want almost all new tracks to use this method,...
I've seen some indie artists pretty upset about this over the last few days. Quite a few of them are concerned (probably correctly) that labels will want almost all new tracks to use this method, which means the already-too-low Spotify payments will get even lower. Some are concerned that the difference will even get passed on to the artists themselves as part of "promotional costs".
I think it would be fair for a system like this to be 100% at the artist's discretion. Labels have too much power already in these arrangements and shouldn't be able to make those sweeping...
I think it would be fair for a system like this to be 100% at the artist's discretion. Labels have too much power already in these arrangements and shouldn't be able to make those sweeping decisions to drop the already-low revenue from the artists.
When I read about this for the first time earlier in the week I genuinely thought it was a Hard Times or Onion article. I hate this so much. I've lost track of the amount of times my bands have...
When I read about this for the first time earlier in the week I genuinely thought it was a Hard Times or Onion article.
I hate this so much. I've lost track of the amount of times my bands have been offered a gigs for no fee but for "gReAT eXpOsURe." It's such bullshit. We can't spend your exposure. Exposure doesn't cover the cost of petrol, equipment, rehearsals, recording, marketing, artwork, filming, and so on. Exposure doesn't cover the cost of uploading a track onto Spotify. I can't go to a bar and get a free drink in exchange for telling all my mates about the pub, or get a free Spotify Premium subscription for tweeting about how great they are.
More listeners can be a great thing. I would love for more people to hear the music my band puts out. There's always the potential for those listeners to become paying customers, to buy merch or to pay for a track. But the overwhelming majority do and will not, so slashing the (already infinitesimal) amount of money that we already get from Spotify for our streams in exchange for "more exposure" feels like corporate greed preying on the hopes and dreams of young artists.
To quote one of my favorite rappers, Machine Gun Kelly: This kind of shit is just going to punish artists who already deserve a higher percentage for the art they make. Honestly I'm pretty done...
To quote one of my favorite rappers, Machine Gun Kelly:
I just, I just, I just wanna know am I being modest?
Asking 50k a show, or do I need mo’?
For all of the years it was slow
For every show where no one would’ve showed
For driving 12 hours to perform in the cold
Getting to the do’ and being told no
Bitch I want all that back times ten
Say it again, bitch I want all that back times ten
All that back times ten
One more ‘gain, bitch I want all that back times ten
So, pay up!
This kind of shit is just going to punish artists who already deserve a higher percentage for the art they make. Honestly I'm pretty done with Spotify at this point. Every decision they make just feels antithetical to what I want to support. I've been shifting to buying more and more music off of bandcamp, trying to stream more via bandcamp, and putting more of my music on my phone. I just don't feel right continuing to support a company that, in my eyes, is this bad. That said, I do understand how the combo of FB and Spotify can put people in situations where its hard to jump ship, and I know I'm privileged enough to be able to afford to buy full albums.
I've seen some indie artists pretty upset about this over the last few days. Quite a few of them are concerned (probably correctly) that labels will want almost all new tracks to use this method, which means the already-too-low Spotify payments will get even lower. Some are concerned that the difference will even get passed on to the artists themselves as part of "promotional costs".
I think it would be fair for a system like this to be 100% at the artist's discretion. Labels have too much power already in these arrangements and shouldn't be able to make those sweeping decisions to drop the already-low revenue from the artists.
When I read about this for the first time earlier in the week I genuinely thought it was a Hard Times or Onion article.
I hate this so much. I've lost track of the amount of times my bands have been offered a gigs for no fee but for "gReAT eXpOsURe." It's such bullshit. We can't spend your exposure. Exposure doesn't cover the cost of petrol, equipment, rehearsals, recording, marketing, artwork, filming, and so on. Exposure doesn't cover the cost of uploading a track onto Spotify. I can't go to a bar and get a free drink in exchange for telling all my mates about the pub, or get a free Spotify Premium subscription for tweeting about how great they are.
More listeners can be a great thing. I would love for more people to hear the music my band puts out. There's always the potential for those listeners to become paying customers, to buy merch or to pay for a track. But the overwhelming majority do and will not, so slashing the (already infinitesimal) amount of money that we already get from Spotify for our streams in exchange for "more exposure" feels like corporate greed preying on the hopes and dreams of young artists.
To quote one of my favorite rappers, Machine Gun Kelly:
This kind of shit is just going to punish artists who already deserve a higher percentage for the art they make. Honestly I'm pretty done with Spotify at this point. Every decision they make just feels antithetical to what I want to support. I've been shifting to buying more and more music off of bandcamp, trying to stream more via bandcamp, and putting more of my music on my phone. I just don't feel right continuing to support a company that, in my eyes, is this bad. That said, I do understand how the combo of FB and Spotify can put people in situations where its hard to jump ship, and I know I'm privileged enough to be able to afford to buy full albums.