Spotify’s Platinum-plated Fist
Large streaming platforms choke out independent artists, but are there alternatives?
BY ABBY VELA
Spotify pays artists less than $0.04 for every 10 streams. If an artist uses a publisher, those few cents are split between the publisher and the artist. When we artists say that streaming platforms pay us pennies, we literally mean pennies.
But the streaming giant won’t give this information easily. In fact, if this information is available on Spotify’s website, I still haven’t found it. On Spotify’s artist site, Loud&Clear, you’ll find tons of pretty graphics telling you, “lots of people make money from their music on our site, and you can too!” Of course, this is anecdotally torn to shreds the minute you talk to a small artist who begs, “please buy our merch to help us keep making music!”
Listens don’t pay, and streaming platforms are just glorified advertising firms.
Do artists want to make their music accessible to those who can’t pay them directly or can’t see them live? Absolutely! But the truth of the matter is that Spotify and other streaming platforms make it nearly impossible to make a living off making music, especially off streams alone.
Help us, small artists, out. We love that you listen to our music on streaming platforms, but to really support us, come to our shows, pay us tips, and buy a CD if you like what you hear! We artists appreciate you all; close to none of us are in it for the money, but unfortunately, that’s what makes the world go ‘round. So until late-stage capitalism eats us all alive, support your local music scene; I promise you won’t regret it.
Sources:
https://loudandclear.byspotify.com/