So what would you recommend? Currently I have what I’d imagine is a relatively small playlist of around 370 songs, 20 minutes shy of 24 hours of songs. While I get that the amount paid to artists is very very small, it has to be to make Spotify a viable company. Even if Spotify paid a penny per song to an artist I’d be looking at a monthly subscription of £35 per month. Or rather I wouldn’t, because I, and millions of others, would cancel and go back to piracy. I have heard that some artists get something like 0.00001p per stream. However, given that Ed Sheehan’s Shape of You has been streamed 2.7 billion times Spotify has still paid him millions of pounds. During the week when I’m WFH I listen to that playlist almost exclusively too so I’ve probably contributed pennies to artists. Besides they make most of their money via touring and merchandise these days.
Spotify quite famously pay artists notably less than other major streaming services, though.
Because they’re the biggest. Artists have tried gatekeeping their music on other services like Tidal but capitulate eventually and go back to Spotify. Even Jay-Z who launched Tidal has his music on Spotify again, as does Taylor Swift.
Yes, I get that. Obviously it works for their business. My point was in response to your question about how they can afford to pay artists more. Clearly other streaming services manage it, and there's no reason that Spotify can't other than it being in a position to abuse its market dominance.
I don't agree to that either but what tunes is he playing exactly? It's been well known for some time they are paying anywhere near what they should be.
So how do you listen to music?
