Summary of Why My Album Won't Be On Spotify

00:00:00 - 00:10:00

In this YouTube video titled "Why My Album Won't Be On Spotify," the artist discusses the pros and cons of streaming music and its impact on artist income. They highlight the convenience of platforms like Spotify but also note the difference in experience compared to physical albums. The artist breaks down the income generated from streaming and explains the challenges of earning a sustainable income from it. They also discuss how Spotify pays royalties based on the artist's stream share and the unequal distribution of profits in the traditional music industry. Despite their album not being on Spotify initially, the artist appreciates the support of their fans and encourages them to follow them on streaming services. They promise to release the tracks on streaming services eventually.

• 00:00:00 In this section, the artist discusses the pros and cons of streaming music and its impact on artist income. While streaming platforms like Spotify provide a convenient way for listeners to access a wide range of music, the artist acknowledges that the experience is different compared to owning physical copies of albums. Streaming allows for quick access and algorithmic recommendations, but it also leads to a lack of cherishing and quick forgetting of songs. Additionally, the artist breaks down the income generated from streaming, highlighting how much they earn per stream and the challenges of recouping recording costs. They explain that it would require millions of streams to earn a sustainable income equivalent to the minimum wage. Despite low monthly listeners on Spotify, the artist is focused on building a sustainable long-term career as an independent artist and is not overly concerned.
• 00:05:00 In this section, the speaker explains how Spotify pays royalties based on the artist's stream share, which is the number of streams their songs receive as a proportion of the total streams on the platform. Contrary to popular belief, Spotify does not pay artist royalties according to per play or per stream rates. Instead, the artists receive royalties based on individual agreements with their labels and distributors. Many major artists, such as Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Beyonce, have criticized this system and imposed delays before releasing their music on Spotify. Some artists have even fought back or experimented with alternative ways of earning income from their music, such as Radiohead's pay-what-you-want release of "In Rainbows." The speaker also highlights the unequal distribution of profits in the traditional music industry, where labels receive a larger share compared to the artists themselves.
• 00:10:00 In this section, the musician explains that while his album won't be available on Spotify initially, he appreciates the support of his fans. He shares that he will personally sign CDs and send them out, highlighting the effort he put into creating a beautiful physical object. He encourages fans to follow him on streaming services, listen to his other songs, add them to their playlists, and share them with friends. Additionally, he requests pre-orders for the physical copy, which includes a high-resolution digital download. Despite the album not being on Spotify, he expresses gratitude for the support and promises to release the tracks on streaming services eventually.