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Royalties from Writing a Hit Song with Justin Bieber

digitalmusicnews.com

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Re: Royalties from Writing a Hit Song with Justin Bieber

#41
post #36
post #9

I can't speak as to the other platforms, but spotify's revenue sharing model really sucks for small artists. For example, if someone signs up for Spotify to listen to exclusively songs by one artist, that artist is not getting that user's monthly fee... they're probably getting a couple pennies tops, if that.

The point of this article is that spotify's revenue sharing model really sucks for BIG artists. Justin Bieber definitely qualifies as a "big" artist.

To be fair, Spotify isn't mentioned at all

Re: Royalties from Writing a Hit Song with Justin Bieber

#43
post #27

I pay GBP10 a month for Spotify. I've never listened to Justin Bieber on Spotify, but lots of other people (who don't pay) do. As a percentage of my cash, how much goes to Justin Bieber vs how much to the bands I've actually listened to who have many less total plays? Or - do neither of them get anything?

The other comment was correct that most of the pooled money will go to Bieber, however I feel there's a better way to frame it. Economically speaking, you can imagine if Spotify had 100 users paying 10 GBP each; 99 listened exclusively to Justin Bieber, and 1 to 'Band.' All users listen to music in equal frequency. Though 99% of the pooled money — and if divvied up equally, 99% of 'Band' fan's money — goes to Justin…

Isn't the whole problem that users don't listen to music with equal frequency? If I use Spotify more than you do, then in effect some of your subscription money goes to the bands I like instead of the bands you like, which is weird and kind of destructive.

Re: Royalties from Writing a Hit Song with Justin Bieber

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Santa's Super Sleigh"?

No but my user name is a big hint. Artist who grew up in South Philly 50-60 years ago and had a hit song so big he still lives off the royalties today.....

Chubby Checker?!

Re: Royalties from Writing a Hit Song with Justin Bieber

#45
post #26
post #9

I can't speak as to the other platforms, but spotify's revenue sharing model really sucks for small artists. For example, if someone signs up for Spotify to listen to exclusively songs by one artist, that artist is not getting that user's monthly fee... they're probably getting a couple pennies tops, if that.

But why should they get most of the monthly fee? Spotify offers the ability for that user to listen to that artist plus a million others and thus carries the overhead required to create a platform for that artist to publish in the first place. This seems a bit like saying that I as a taxpayer should only have to pay for the public services that I, at this point in time, take advantage of.

That's why Spotify takes its cut, no?

Comparing listening to different artists to funding multiple agencies with tax dollars isn't a valid comparison.

It's like saying that when I buy my favourite brand of ice cream at the store, that the other ice cream brands will get a cut simply for gracing the shelves.

Re: Royalties from Writing a Hit Song with Justin Bieber

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another difference is that most of those 20k people did not ask to hear this song while every (well, more or less) streamer has.

Pandora has to pay more if it was requested.

but we all know that the whole pandora business is exactly to get around that.

you get to hear the song you want, and a few similar ones, in a guise that it worked like radio and you didnt select any song, so they can keep the royalties down.

...that said, i'd be very curious what's YouTube excuse. if they need any and are not just shoving their weight around. for tv series and cartoons they are using the "but thats our users streaming content live! we will punish them, after suggesting their live stream to everyone and collect ads revenue" excuse

Re: Royalties from Writing a Hit Song with Justin Bieber

#48
Everyone knows that songwriters do not make their money off royalties. They make their money off charging pop stars hourly to write music with them.

The same way performing artists don't make money off their albums, they make money by touring and increasing their brand reach as an artist.

Music industry is not about creating IP, the same way the tech industry is not about creating IP. Making things and making money are two separate, yet intertwined tasks.

Re: Royalties from Writing a Hit Song with Justin Bieber

#49

> How will I be able to support my gift? In the end what we are seeing is that that golden era of creators making a living (and much much more) was an anomaly. Control of new types of distribution created scarcity and new forms of expression and shifting norms jacked up demand. But now distribution is free, instant and global. Demand has flatlined and production has exploded. The hard question a creator needs to ask…

What de-humanizing nonsense.

I have inate creative abilities. What should it matter to me whether others find value in what I choose to produce with them?

Participating in free market capitalism is simply a pragmatic choice when no others exist. If people can't create freely and survive, that's a problem with our society, not where an individual is putting their efforts.

"But now distribution is free, instant and global."

You got subsidized free internet? A free computer? Free software tools that aren't a kludgey mess? What sort of fairy tale world do you live in?

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