Parody encourages streaming users to reflect on the value that artists receive from the company
In the wake of Spotify Wrapped, a retrospective of the streaming platform with each user’s most listened to artists and songs of the year, a website called Spotify Unwrapped was created.
The name of the parody is a pun on the English words “wrap” and “unwrap”, which can be translated as “wrap” and “unwrap”. The site compared the amount paid by Spotify customers with the royalties the company pays to artists, revealing “its predatory treatment” (via NME).
While Wrapped came out on Wednesday, the 4th, the site went offline this Thursday, the 5th, after “a request from Spotify’s legal team”.
#SpotifyWrapped2024 has dropped. But have you tried #SpotifyUnwrapped?
Find out how much money Spotify paid your favorite artists on your behalf in 2024. https://t.co/XPxs6EcNnKpic.twitter.com/H27NGlVXvG
— Spotify Unwrapped (@SpotifyUnwrappd) December 4, 2024
The link takes you to a website that continues to encourage fans to reflect on the value received by artists. Based on the type of plan and minutes listened to or number of streams, users can calculate how much artists supposedly received for each listener.
“Completely independent artists receive approximately 90% of this amount. Artists signed by record companies can receive from 5% to 50%, depending on the contract signed,” says the website.
The text also mentions the decision to Kate Nash to join OnlyFans: “If possible, support your favorite artists in other ways, such as purchasing merchandise, watching live shows, or subscribing to their content on OnlyFans.”
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.
