• Consequence
  • Music
  • Film
  • TV
  • Heavy
Menu Consequence
Menu Shop Search Newsletter
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Metal Week
  • Live
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
Menu Shop Search Newsletter
  • Music

Spotify CEO To Artists: “You Can’t Record Music Once Every Three To Four Years And Think That’s Going To Be Enough”

Daniel Ek suggests the secret to success is not higher Spotify payout rates, but more output from musicians

Advertisement
spotify-daniel-ek-streaming-albums-comments-controversy
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, photo via Bloomberg
Advertisement
Lake Schatz
August 1, 2020 | 3:15pm ET
Conway the Machine and Big Ghost LTD Reunite on New Album If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed: Stream

August 1, 2020

The Roots Announce Deluxe Reissue of Do You Want More?!!!??!, Share Alternate Mix of "Silent Treatment": Stream

August 1, 2020

Thurston Moore Unleashes Surprise Album screen time: Stream

August 1, 2020

    In many ways, Spotify and other similar streaming services have been a godsend for music lovers who want to access anything and everything at a moment’s notice. However, since its launch in the late 2000s, Spotify has also earned a shady reputation due to its meager streaming payout rates for artists. According to a recent report, a mid-sized indie label earned just $0.00348 per stream. Many major acts have slammed the Swedish company for failing to properly support musicians, including Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who once likened Spotify to “the last desperate fart of a dying corpse.”

    In a turn of events that probably shouldn’t surprise anyone that’s even vaguely familiar with the music industry, Spotify doesn’t think it’s doing anything wrong. In fact, the streaming company believes it’s the artists who aren’t doing enough to help themselves. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek stated as much in a wild new interview with MusicAlly, in which he said musicians should be recording and releasing music nonstop in order to make ends meet.

    To start off the discussion, Ek said that although musicians don’t often publicly praise Spotify, the data suggests they’re actually satisfied with the payout rates. “In private they have done that [praised Spotify] many times, but in public they have no incentive to do it,” he remarked. “But unequivocally, from the data, there are more and more artists that are able to live off streaming income in itself.”

    Advertisement
    Related Video

    Ek’s core argument “in defense of Spotify” came during a later conversation about artists past and present. According to him, artists that have survived in the past may not be as fortunate in today’s world, which rewards fast-paced, 24/7 work cycles.

    Spotify Lifts LIbrary Cap Allowing Unlimited Saves
    Editor's Pick
    Spotify Lifts 10,000-Song Cap on Libraries

    Editor's Pick
    Spotify Adds 8-Minute, 46-Second Silent Track to Playlists for Blackout Tuesday

    “There is a narrative fallacy here, combined with the fact that, obviously, some artists that used to do well in the past may not do well in this future landscape, where you can’t record music once every three to four years and think that’s going to be enough,” said Ek.

    “The artists today that are making it realize that it’s about creating a continuous engagement with their fans,” he continued. “It is about putting the work in, about the storytelling around the album, and about keeping a continuous dialogue with your fans.”

    Advertisement

    Ek, who as of 2020 is reportedly worth $4 billion dollars, concluded by saying, “I feel, really, that the ones that aren’t doing well in streaming are predominantly people who want to release music the way it used to be released.”

    Saying that artists should constantly be releasing new material just to get by is an elitist and out-of-touch statement, and one that dehumanizes artists and their work. It’s also one that could potentially have dangerous ramifications not unlike those experienced in the concert industry. Since music’s gone digital, artists have had to increasingly rely almost entirely on touring to survive, resulting in exhausting, jam-packed concert schedules that often threaten both their physical and mental health. Per Ek’s flawed logic, artists would need to adopt a similar recording ethic if they want to be successful.

    Naturally, Ek’s comments have not been well received by musicians. On Twitter, David Crosby called Ek “an obnoxious greedy little shit.” Mike Mills of R.E.M. replied similarly, telling Ed to “go fuck yourself.”

    Advertisement

    Editor’s Note: We’re currently offering an exclusive 60-day free trial to TIDAL Hi-FI. Beyond the platform’s high-fidelity audio offerings, TIDAL also reportedly offers greatest royalties to artists.

    Music=product, and must be churned out regularly, says billionaire Daniel Ek.

    Go fuck yourself. https://t.co/zJjl3NWjLl

    — Sweet Daddy Cool✌️🇺🇦 🐕🇨🇦 (@m_millsey) July 31, 2020

    You are an obnoxious greedy little shit Daniel Ek https://t.co/8tZx55LeDe

    — David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) July 31, 2020

Travis Barker and Run the Jewels - For
PreviousSong of the Week: Travis Barker and Run the Jewels Welcome Us to the Jungle on “Forever”
Jane's Addiction reunite for Lolla2020 livestream
Next Jane’s Addiction Reunite for First Public Performance in Three Years: Watch

More on this topic

  • Controversy
  • Music Business
  • Music Industry
  • Quoteworthy
  • Spotify
  • Streaming

Subscribe to our daily email digest for the latest headlines.

Advertisement

Latest Stories

freddie gibbs the alchemist alfredo 2 stream 1995 alfredo the movie watch listen

Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist Announce Alfredo 2, Share "1995": Stream

July 17, 2025

Bonnaroo Announces 2026 Dates

Bonnaroo Announces 2026 Dates, Details Camping and Festival Site Changes

July 17, 2025

coldplay kiss cam tech ceo affair andy byron astronomer music of the spheres tour

Coldplay Kiss Cam Catches Embarrassed Tech CEO with Non-Wife Coworker

July 17, 2025

corey feldman characters music video ai acting roles new song

Corey Feldman's AI Clones Sing "Characters" in New Music Video: Watch

July 17, 2025

justice kaytranada fall 2025 co-headlining tour dates tickets pre-sale code

Justice and Kaytranada Announce Co-Headlining Fall Tour

July 17, 2025

Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails Unleash New Song "As Alive As You Need Me to Be": Stream

July 17, 2025

lady gaga mayhem ball tour kickoff las vegas t-mobile arena

Lady Gaga Kicks Off "The Mayhem Ball" Tour in Las Vegas: Videos + Setlist

July 17, 2025

Biohazard

Biohazard Announce First Album in 13 Years and Fall 2025 North American Tour

July 17, 2025

Advertisement
News
News
  • Music
  • New Music
  • Album Streams
  • Upcoming Releases
  • Tours
  • Film
  • TV
  • Pop Culture
Reviews
Reviews
  • Album Reviews
  • Concert Reviews
  • Festival Coverage
  • Film Reviews
  • TV Reviews
Features
Features
  • Editorials
  • Interviews
  • Cover Stories
  • Lists
  • Guides
  • CoSign
  • Song of the Week
Live
Live
  • Tickets
  • Festival News
  • Tour Dates
  • Photo Galleries
  • Music Instruments & Gear
Heavy
Heavy
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Concerts
More
More
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Wellness
  • Giveaways
  • Crosswords

Other sites

  • Heavy Consequence
  • Consequence Media
  • Modern Drummer
  • About
  • Privacy policy
  • Advertising
  • Work For Us
  • Brand Guidelines
  • Terms
  • Contact
  • Copyright
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Download our app !

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Twitch
  • Tiktok
Consequence Close
News
News
  • News
  • New Music
  • Album Streams
  • Upcoming Releases
  • Film
  • TV
  • Trailers
  • Pop Culture
  • Crosswords
  • Games
  • Giveaways
Reviews
Reviews
  • Album Reviews
  • Concert Reviews
  • Festival Coverage
  • Film Reviews
  • TV Reviews
  • Dusting 'Em Off
Features
Features
  • Cover Stories
  • CoSigns
  • Lists
  • Editorials
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Crate Digging
  • Hometowns of Consequence
  • Song of the Week
  • New Music Friday
  • Albums of the Month
  • Fan Chant
  • Track by Track
  • Origins
Live
Live
  • Tour Dates
  • Festival News
  • Festival Outlook
  • How to Get Tickets
  • Photo Galleries
Podcasts
Podcasts
  • The Story Behind the Song
  • Kyle Meredith With...
  • Going There with Dr. Mike
  • Stanning BTS
  • In Defense of Ska
  • Long Time No See
  • The Opus
Best Of Lists
Best Of Lists
  • 2024 Annual Report
  • Top Albums of All Time
  • Top 100 Songs Ever
  • 30 Best Albums of 2024 (So Far)
  • 100 Best Song of 2024 (So Far)
  • 10 Best Films of 2024 (So Far)
  • 15 Best TV Shows of 2024 (So Far)
  • 20 Best Metal & Hard Rock Albums of 2024 (So Far)
  • 2023 Annual Report
  • 2022 Annual Report
  • 2021 Annual Report
  • 2020 Annual Report
Videos
Videos
  • Interviews
  • Mixtapes
  • Two for the Road
  • Battle of the Bandmates
  • Video Essays
Heavy
Heavy
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Concerts
  • Premieres
  • Heavy Culture
  • Beyond the Boys Club
  • Mining Metal
Newsletter
Newsletter
  • Consequence Daily
  • Stream On
  • Fan Chant
  • Heavy Consequence
Theme Weeks
Theme Weeks
  • Bass Week
  • Drum Week
  • Post-Grunge Week
  • Punk Week
  • Industrial Week
  • Marvel Week
  • Disney Week
  • Foo Fighters Week
  • TV Theme Song Week
  • Sex in Cinema Week
  • Hip-Hop 50

Follow Consequence

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Twitch
  • Tiktok
Close