Artist says he made an “amazing deal” with the streaming app when he had just been released and is satisfied
A world notoriety musician goes against the artistic community when the subject and payments of the Spotify. Steve Lukatherguitarist of TotoIt is one of the rare not to complain about the streaming application remuneration policy.
According to the artist, who has also played with Ringo Starr, Scaggs Boz And others, he got a lucrative contract with the streaming platform. The secret? It also negotiated at the beginning of the existence of the tool.
Lukather spoke about the subject in an interview with The Times. Interestingly, he was resigned to the slice of taxes he needs to give in:
“I made an amazing deal with Spotify when he was two weeks old. But it’s not money, although everyone needs money. I have four children and two former wanders, and the tax authorities get 50%. I’ll leave it.”
Spotify does not have a unique price list for all artists. The amount paid by the application varies according to different factors, such as the type of content (music or podcast) and user (free or subscriber) that gives play.
However, it is currently estimated that the value is around 0.003 and 0.008 dollars for each reproduction. In addition, Spotify itself retains about 30% of the total revenue generated by a particular band or artist.
Steve Lukather, Toto and the new audience on Spotify
What explains Steve Lukather’s satisfaction with his profit in the app is also the growth of the public’s interest in Toto. In July 2024, the band had a peak performance and reached more than 3 million reproductions per day. Most came from listeners 34 or less.
Lukather celebrates the apparent audience renewal:
“It’s impressive – this is really happening. We have an audience that has never known us before. They just say, ‘I like this song’ without having preconceived ideas about what it is. Today, they have a billion options and still choose us.”
Much of this is due to the hit “Africa”released in the early 1980s. The track of the album Toto IV has returned to the popular imagination in recent years due to a series of media appearances and a rewriting – made in play – Weezer. As a result, the original song accumulates more than 2 billion streams on Spotify.
Bullshit with Weezer
Interestingly, however, Steve Lukather’s relationship with Rivers Cuomo, vocalist and weezer guitarist, is not the best. In an interview with 99.5 klos (via American Songwriter), the veteran said that Cuomo did not respond satisfactorily to his contact attempts. Also in his opinion, the group emerged in the 1990s made available the rereading as a mockery – and the shot came out for the Culatro.
“I don’t know if he loves this song, man. I think he did it to make fun, but exploded in his face. Now, he has to touch her every night. I tried to contact the guy and be friendly, but it was weird. I don’t want to get into detail. It was good for them, good for us, God bless them.”
Rolling Stone: The 250 greatest guitarists in history
The 250 greatest guitarists in history gathered in an edition of exclusive collector of Rolling Stone Brazil. Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page And many other guitarists who have marked the history of rock in recent decades. Guarantee your copy now through the website storeperfil.com.br.
See this photo on InstagramA publication shared by Rolling Stone Brasil (@rollingstonebrasil)
+++ Read more: Steve Lukather’s hard criticism of the Weezer after cover of “Africa”
+++ Read more: Africa, from Toto, plays nonstop installation made at … Africa
+++ Read more: the classic band that snatched fans in SP a few meters from the System of a Down concert
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.
