The musician’s criticisms were made shortly after Spotify demonetized tracks with less than a thousand streams, a decision that came into force in early April
Trent Reznorof Nine Inch Nails, advocated against streaming services. In an interview with GQ (via NME), he highlighted that platforms like Spotify and Apple Music don’t pay artists well: “I think the terrible payment of streaming services has mortally wounded an entire layer of artists that makes being an artist unsustainable.”
“It’s great if you are the Drakebut it’s not good if you’re the Grizzly Bear“, he continued. “And the reality is: look around you. There’s been a lot of that argument that “a rising tide lifts all boats”, as we’ve seen that not all boats do. Some boats lift. Some don’t. They cannot make money in any medium. And I think that’s bad for art.
Reznor also stated that he “thought that maybe at Apple there would be more influence to pay in a more fair and meaningful way, because a lot of these services are just a rounding error, unlike Spotify, where the whole business is like that”.
“But it’s tied to a lot of other political things and record company issues, and everyone is trying to secure their piece of the pie and it is what it is. I also get it, I think people just want to turn on the tap and let the music come. No. They’re really worried about the whole romantic thing that I thought would matter.”
The musician’s criticisms were made shortly after Spotify demonetized tracks with less than a thousand streams. The decision came into effect on April 1st.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
