An escalating rebellion is targeting the core of Spotify’s business model: its payment system. Artists have long called out the streaming giant for its “paltry payouts,” a system they decry as “royalty theft.” Now, this economic frustration is fueling a dedicated movement, exemplified by the “Death to Spotify” talks, aimed at building a more equitable financial future for musicians.
The numbers are stark. Musicians often receive just a fraction of a cent for each stream, making it nearly impossible for anyone but the world’s biggest stars to earn a living wage from streaming. In her book Mood Machine, critic Liz Pelly points out that Spotify’s model is fundamentally dependent on underpaying creators. This financial strain is forcing artists to seek out alternatives that offer genuine financial returns and restore their agency.
This economic protest is gaining traction as artists prove that life beyond Spotify is not only possible but potentially more profitable. The band Hotline TNT, for example, generated thousands of dollars by selling their latest record directly to fans via Bandcamp and a Twitch stream. Similarly, songwriter Caroline Rose released her album exclusively on vinyl and Bandcamp, inspired by other artists who have successfully bypassed the streaming ecosystem altogether.
The fight for fair pay is also becoming more organized and political. The Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) is a key player in this battle, moving beyond individual artist boycotts to push for systemic reform. The union is championing the Living Wages for Musicians Act, a bill sponsored by U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, which would directly regulate streaming payouts to ensure artists are compensated fairly for their work.
This growing movement signals a critical shift. Artists are no longer passively accepting the terms dictated by streaming giants. By combining direct-to-fan sales with collective political action, they are mounting a formidable challenge to a system they see as exploitative. The goal is clear: to create a music industry where artists can afford to create, and their work is valued in dollars, not just fractions of a cent.
