Get me outta’ here.
I think it’s time y’all put me down. I open up the news today to this and it has me sad. No it’s not war and death, I understand that. But It’s important to me. It means folks are stupid.
It’s not the computers, it’s Spotify.
500,000 listeners and climbing. Countless articles about this AI band called Velvet Sundown from Spotify today are in the feeds. I’m not a fan. In fact, I’d say I hate them. But I’m not wasting energy to talk about a dumb band. Let’s talk about Spotify.
Spotify has been trying for years to break into the music generating business, not just distribution. They’ve had bands no one has heard of with hundreds of thousands of listeners before. They were people, but still tools. They were usually overseas on some obscure label owned by who? Yeah, Spotify.
About their “Bands.”
This article from last year catches you up on what I am referring to. See, Spotify wants to be the music generator and the distributor. I wonder who they leave out doing that?
Here’s the thing, if I knew someone that acted like an asshole to musicians as much as Spotify does, I would ghost their ass and blast them on the internet. I’ve actually been doing this a while. It’s just not that popular yet.
AI Tools, Human Tools, doesn’t matter. You work for Spotify.
Maybe now that they’re using AI tools to make bands instead of human ones this issue will get some traction. They’re no longer using one writer for hundreds of playlisted tunes. They’re using all of us, AI. Even if we aren’t on Spotify, we’re still in their sights. Why does anyone use this company at all? Listening and distributing is a train wreck.
Want to buy a watch I stole?
If we can afford something, it doesn’t mean it is cheap. It could be hot. You know, like watches on the subway back in the day? That’s what Spotify peddles now, hot music. But not the kind that’s new and exciting, the kind that is stolen. Most musicians cannot afford the litigation that wouldn’t even guarantee a win. Most listeners can’t afford to buy all the music they want to check out. So here comes Spotify with a glorious opportunity for both parties to get ripped off.
I got a lot of heat for taking our music down from streamers. Today’s news makes me glad we did that. I hope I can encourage folks to do the same. I know people worry about “reach” and “branding” and “getting out there,” but Spotify is mocking those urges and turning you into their tool. They steal from you, then give their own bands more numbers. Why shouldn’t they? Those “bands” actually work and are in existence for Spotify. Those bands also steal from everyone on the internet. But only Spotify gets paid? You bet your ass.
About Spotify’s “earnings”.
Here’s a look at Spotify’s Q1 reports. Operating at half a billion, profiting 4 and a half billion projected for Q2, I’d say they’re doing better than most of us. lol. PDF.
When you as an artist give Spotify your music, think of a rich evil man smoking a cigar at the crossroads, lol. You’re not far off the mark. When you as a listener give Spotify a subscription fee, think of the musicians they are happy to exploit in several ways.
Also, think about how much money there is in music if they make that much with total shit. There’s loads of money in music. It is going to distribution and streaming, not artists. Are you helping artists with your music? Your listening? Why? Why not? Feel free to let me know, I don’t bite…. usually. [email protected]
“This Ticket” was our first release together. It’s fun to listen to that and think about how different the next record is going to be from it. Enjoying a lot of writing and learning lately. Enjoying the words. No Spotify required.
Return to home.
