It’s clear that something has to change in the music industry.
Labels and streaming services need music, and musicians need to get paid to make it.
So why is it so hard to keep everyone happy?
Nicholas Nguyen / Unsplash
“Artists often enter into deals which entitle publishers and other parties to half or more of the royalties.
The Split
In most cases, record labels get the biggest cut.
The artists who created the music get a cut depending on their contract.
Bruno Gomiero / Unsplash
Often, signing to a label also means that artists give up the copyright to their recordings.
This includes, for example, half-minute tracks designed to game the system and divert royalties, he writes.
None of this helps artists or fans who want to listen to and support their music.
Streaming is popular because it is convenient and cheap for listeners.
But until that happens, there are still things you might do.
you’re able to support artists directly, often via a service like Patreon.
And there are still CDs and vinyl releases if you don’t like paying for downloads.
Grainge is right on one point, though.
Something does have to change.
Musicians and fans are the only important parts of the music industry.
The rest are just middlepersons taking a (huge) cut.
One can only hope.
