Many people love Spotify, not Radiohead’s Thom Yorke though, who has pulled all of his solo material and that of his new side project band Atoms For Peace from the popular streaming service in protest at its treatment of new artists.
“Make no mistake new artists you discover on #Spotify will not get paid meanwhile shareholders will shortly be rolling in it,” Yorke said.
Producer Nigel Godrich, who produced Radiohead’s The Bends and has worked with the likes of Beck and Paul McCartney, said that new artists get paid “fuck all with this model,” and that “small labels and new artists can’t even keep their lights on.”
“Plus, people are scared to speak up or not take part as they are told they will lose invaluable exposure if they don’t play ball,” he added.
The changing face of the music industry is a hotly contested battleground as new modes of consuming and making music continue to vy for pole position.
Spotify, as a free or pay-per-month service, pays bands and artists only a nominal fee for each stream of their music.
Photo: Getty.
Make no mistake new artists you discover on #Spotify will no get paid. meanwhile shareholders will shortly being rolling in it. Simples.
— Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) July 14, 2013
“your small meaningless rebellion is only hurting your fans … a drop in the bucket really” No we're standing up for our fellow musicians
— Thom Yorke (@thomyorke) July 14, 2013
The reason is that new artists get paid fuck all with this model.. It's an equation that just doesn't work
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013