I don't know if anyone has seen this. I received an e-mail by them today basically saying that from April 1st onwards they will not be giving anymore part of our subscription to our most listened to artist but to instead finance a program for some very specific new artists we don't know.

I can share the e-mail here if anyone is interested but I received it in my native language, portuguese, so not sure if useful for most here.

Anyway, I honestly am not happy about this. I like knowing the artists I listened to most that month would receive something but from them, who knows where it'll go. If you mainly listen to established artists that's all well and good but I bet many here listen also to some that would benefit from an extra revenue.

Anyway, anyone else has any thoughts about this?

Comments

hollandaren t1_jaergh1 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:23 PM

Don’t you think the mentioned date is a bit suspicious?

dropdorpc t1_jaes3il wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:27 PM

That's a good point! Very wiley of them.

dropdorpc t1_jaeuobm wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:45 PM

It says in the email that up and coming artists were not seeing enough because the payout is dependent on the users' top artists. So the new program says they will be "backing emerging artists with education, custom promotion and direct-funding, so they can grow, thrive, and build their careers with purpose and confidence." They also stated in the email that 70,000 artists were enrolled in this recent program and collected $500,00 over its course. Wish we could just cash app them but I wonder if contracts stop that from happening. But ultimately it seems like they're trying to do good.

StarWarder t1_jaeytuc wrote on February 28, 2023 at 11:14 PM

Imagine a subscription tier that instead allows you to pick to whom a percentage of your subscription goes. Let’s say the majority would still be the old model tied to number of listens but some amount you get to control regardless of listening frequency. That would be cool. And on top of that control maybe you get a few special features or perks nobody else gets. I’d pay for that.

DeepJudgment t1_jaeqw07 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:19 PM

They want to redirect money to some very specific artists we don't know? Sounds like money laundering to me

Lelouch25 t1_jaexj4c wrote on February 28, 2023 at 11:05 PM

Read the email today. I believe Tidal is still the top payout in streaming to artists.

BugMaster420 t1_jaer0i3 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:20 PM

That sounds dodgy... And one of the main reasons I moved to tidal was to support artists

G65434-2_II t1_jaeqyp4 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:19 PM

So, the pro rata payment model that for example Spotify uses, I presume? Monthly subscription revenue goes into one big pool and is then divided among all artists on the platform, proportionally based on the number of streams that month, so regardless of one's listening habits, the biggest chunk the subscription fee will always line the pockets of the pockets of the most listened artists. Yeah, sucks all kinds of balls.

blargh4 t1_jaeryyv wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:26 PM

Well, apparently Tidal had some kind of program where among the premium tier subscribers, 10% of your subscription fee would go to your top listened artist every month, and only that artist. Which seems even dumber than the standard streaming payout model.

No-Context5479 t1_jaesw03 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 10:33 PM

My thoughts are join us here on the darkside of OGG Vorbis enjoyers... Spotify is Supreme here🗿