this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2025
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So the artists get paid even less than from Spotify?
Its mostly Sony, UMG, and all the other leeches who would get paid less for their share holders.
I dont feel like editing the image but imagine the guy with most of the cookies in this picture was UMG and the artists are the guy on the right.
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Yes, sure, but if those don't get paid, artists don't get paid. And artists are not forced to pick a label, they are free to go solo, but they still prefer labels, so it's not that black and white labels bad, artists good
Well if you genuinely care about seeing artists get paid the ones who need it most tend to make their conent available already for free on bandcamp or similar services, and have physical albums and merch you can buy.
Last night i spent $10 on 3 albums on bandcamp, those artists each made more on that single purchase then they would from thousands of streams.
Spotify making less (or more) money does not trickle down to artists on a per stream basis.
Dont be a corporate bootlicker. Say it with me now, "If buying isnt owning Piracy is not stealing. "
It is really refreshing how this thread spins in "we know what's best for the artists, certainly not paying for listening to their streams, that's exactly what they want". If you don't want to use Spotify, that's fine, I don't want to either because they are an awful company. But that doesn't make you the person who create the rules for artists nor does it give you the permission to listen to illegal content.
I dont think its a huge leap to think artists would rather you be able to buy their music once and make a $ instead of stream it from a sevice that pays them next to nothing.
What is stopping them? But it seems that general consensus here is that artists would like you to listen for free and here and there buy something from them.
a few years ago, back when I was still using Spotify, I checked my Wrapped and apparently I was using Spotify more than 99.5% of users in my country, and when it came to my most listened artist, I was in top 0.05% listeners worldwide. doing some back-of-the-napkin math with the data I got online about Spotify's payouts, it turned out the money the artist got during that year from me amounted to ~~less than~~ just a bit over a dollar.
if you're really concerned about supporting artists, use the money you'd pay for your music streaming subscription and buy their album or a piece of merch every two months.
Yeah, I've been seeing an increasing number of artists who are pro piracy, who basically say "steal our music, save your money, and if you want to support us, come to a gig and buy some merch".
I've also seen more and more artists staying off Spotify entirely. One such artist is the wonderful folk artist Lucy & Hazel . This was the first time I actually bought music in years, and a big part of that was because I wanted to support their active choice to stay off Spotify.
An unexpected side effect of this is that because I'm aware these guys are situated less optimally for algorithmic discoverability, I find myself actively recommending them to people. It feels nice compared to the more passive mode of algorithmic music discovery
I've had Spotify since it basically released. I fully switched to a self hosted music library about 5 months ago. I imagine I've supported artists more in those 5 months than I did during my 18-ish years of Spotify premium. I still use Soulseek for large artists or quite old albums, but most new releases and remix tracks I pay for.
How many buyers are there ~~is~~ if entire archive is available for free? 10? 20?
okay so this next bit might shock you, but there's already a HUGE amount of music available on Youtube for everyone to search through and listen to with just a few click. and in addition to that, there's the Soulseek network, countless torrent trackers – both public and private – that let you download entire discographies, as well as Youtube download tools, websites and tools that let you rip music from streaming services. and all of those are free! more than that, they have been around for years! and before that, people would download songs from Limewire or Kazaa or Napster, tape songs from radio, or buy bootleg albums. and somehow, there's still people buying music and T-shirts from their favourite bands, and paying to attend their concerts. absolutely bonkers.
I buy at least 5 cds a month from groups I like. Usually on bandcamp or the artist website. Usually smaller groups. If theyre massively famous or were hugely successful 40 years ago I may not purchase it though. Or get a used copy.
It might shock you, but content on YouTube gets paid. And illegal sources out there don't make it more legal to share it. It's funny though, you are basically saying what? Listen for free, middle finger to authors, and buy merchandise? As opposite to listen legally, authors get something and buy merchandise? But hey, I'm glad that you speak for authors.
similar fraction of pennies as in Spotify's case, and often the people who receive the money aren't the people behind the content, especially when it comes to older or less popular music, because it's been uploaded by some random guy 14 years ago.
no, my good guy, I say middle finger to Spotify and their warmongering, slop-embracing, Joe-Rogan-loving business, and spend money in a way that skips at least one middle man which hopefully results in the artist getting a bigger cut, and in you actually owning something even when the company you've bought from goes down, rather than renting it.
right back atcha!
How so? You are the wiser what artists really wants - not being paid for listening to their music and would like you to listen to it for free. I merely follow what they offer and not trying to listen to it illegally.
I'm guessing this is more about preserving culture and art. I find it unlikely that this post would be someone's first clue that they could listen to music for free, and listening to music out of this dump would be way harder than any other method.
You underestimate people and their motivation to listen for free no matter what.
Who's fault is it that there's no fair systems one could use (except maybe bandcamp)? Not mine at least, I don't use Spotify at all. I would not sell my music there if I would be an artist.
I don't use Spotify, either. And do what you want to do, nobody is forcing your to put your music on Spotify.
Bandcamp is good. Bands still have websites and mailing lists too. There was never anything wrong with these but big tech wants to keep you in their walled garden and forget the TRUE internet still exists out there.
Also, record stores bro.
Well, we are talking pennies here so... /s
It's not just Spotify, it content is free for all, then who is buying?