Digital Music Distribution Thieves : A Modern-Day Crisis for Artists
Digital Music Distribution Thieves: A Modern-Day Crisis for Artists
In the boring world of the digital age, the internet—an incredible tool for many industries—has become a double-edged sword for the creative sector.
Unlike the patronage systems of medieval times, where artists needed wealthy benefactors to survive, today's digital distribution methods have introduced a new set of challenges that are arguably worse for established artists.
Icons like Burna Boy and Snoop Dogg have openly voiced their frustrations about streaming revenues and exploitative contracts. Despite their billion-selling status, the disparity between their earnings and the profits pocketed by industry executives and platforms is glaring, and could be described as criminal.
The promises made by digital distribution companies like Spotify, which project an image of fairness and professionalism, are often a stark contrast to the grim reality faced by artists. The narrative is distressingly common: many of these companies lure artists with grand promises of fair royalties and global exposure but fail to deliver on these commitments. In numerous cases, the royalties paid are so meager that they amount to fraud or theft, with some companies withholding payments indefinitely, leveraging complex legal jargon to wear down artists into giving up.
A personal encounter with DistroKid points to the gravity of this issue.
The company engaged in unauthorized deductions from my bank account, a practice Barclays Bank inexplicably permitted. Despite cancelling my contract due to negligible royalties over two years for nine songs, DistroKid threatened to remove all my tracks from the web unless I paid an additional fee to keep them active. This coercive tactic highlights the exploitative nature of these digital distributors, who seem more focused on extracting fees from artists than on fair compensation.
The anonymity behind many digital distribution companies exacerbates the problem. In the past, artists knew the faces and names behind industry giants like EMI, Polygram, and Polydor.
Today, tech-savvy individuals, some as young as 13 year old teenagers, can set up companies in the comfort of their homes and exploit artists with impunity.
They present professional-looking websites with convincing slogans, but their operations often border on predatory.
Monthly deductions and hidden fees add up, leaving artists feeling duped and financially drained, with little to no return on their investment.
This situation demands urgent attention and reform.
The digital music distribution industry, as it stands, is rife with malpractice and exploitation.
Artists are the lifeblood of the music world, and they deserve to be treated with respect and fairness.
The industry needs to adopt transparent practices and ensure that royalties and earnings are distributed equitably.
Until then, the digital music distribution industry has no credibility and, more importantly, no soul. Soulless .
The operators of these companies must be held accountable.
IAM Olofin
In the boring world of the digital age, the internet—an incredible tool for many industries—has become a double-edged sword for the creative sector.
Unlike the patronage systems of medieval times, where artists needed wealthy benefactors to survive, today's digital distribution methods have introduced a new set of challenges that are arguably worse for established artists.
Icons like Burna Boy and Snoop Dogg have openly voiced their frustrations about streaming revenues and exploitative contracts. Despite their billion-selling status, the disparity between their earnings and the profits pocketed by industry executives and platforms is glaring, and could be described as criminal.
The promises made by digital distribution companies like Spotify, which project an image of fairness and professionalism, are often a stark contrast to the grim reality faced by artists. The narrative is distressingly common: many of these companies lure artists with grand promises of fair royalties and global exposure but fail to deliver on these commitments. In numerous cases, the royalties paid are so meager that they amount to fraud or theft, with some companies withholding payments indefinitely, leveraging complex legal jargon to wear down artists into giving up.
A personal encounter with DistroKid points to the gravity of this issue.
The company engaged in unauthorized deductions from my bank account, a practice Barclays Bank inexplicably permitted. Despite cancelling my contract due to negligible royalties over two years for nine songs, DistroKid threatened to remove all my tracks from the web unless I paid an additional fee to keep them active. This coercive tactic highlights the exploitative nature of these digital distributors, who seem more focused on extracting fees from artists than on fair compensation.
The anonymity behind many digital distribution companies exacerbates the problem. In the past, artists knew the faces and names behind industry giants like EMI, Polygram, and Polydor.
Today, tech-savvy individuals, some as young as 13 year old teenagers, can set up companies in the comfort of their homes and exploit artists with impunity.
They present professional-looking websites with convincing slogans, but their operations often border on predatory.
Monthly deductions and hidden fees add up, leaving artists feeling duped and financially drained, with little to no return on their investment.
This situation demands urgent attention and reform.
The digital music distribution industry, as it stands, is rife with malpractice and exploitation.
Artists are the lifeblood of the music world, and they deserve to be treated with respect and fairness.
The industry needs to adopt transparent practices and ensure that royalties and earnings are distributed equitably.
Until then, the digital music distribution industry has no credibility and, more importantly, no soul. Soulless .
The operators of these companies must be held accountable.
IAM Olofin
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