Trance artist Gareth Emery recently shared a screenshot of an e-mail from a “big radio promoter” that pigeonholes the artist and degrades his music and fans. The e-mail shows how the promoter labels Gareth Emery as an artist known for “druggy rave music” and that’s the formula he should stick with if he wants to have a successful career.
Well-known record labels and artists are choosing to remove their music from Spotify. Munich label Ilian Tape removed its entire back catalogue from the streaming giant. Even Ye is ditching the platform for his forthcoming release Donda 2. Controversy has plagued Spotify because of its low royalty rates and recent political decisions, such as Spotify CEO Daniel Ek choosing to invest in AI defense capabilities for British, German, and French militaries. Despite compelling moral and ethical reasons to leave, some artists simply can’t. There are legal and practical considerations that prevent many artists from cancelling Spotify.
When Neil Young said that he wanted to take his music off of Spotify because of Joe Rogan, he actually didn’t have the legal right to remove his music. Young gave that right to his label, Warner Music Group, when he signed his record deal. Because Warner owned Young’s copyrights to his work, Young had to ask for Warner’s permission before he removed his music from Spotify. Many well-known and emerging artists are in the same predicament.
Although copyright law varies from country to country, an artist’s copyright can always be given away in a contract. The issue is that some artists do not understand what rights they give up when they sign a record deal. Or, they feel pressured to sign an unfavorable contract because it will “look good.”
Artists often give up the entire copyright to their work. This means that the artist’s label has the exclusive rights to their music. In other words, the label has the legal power to do what they want with the artist’s music, regardless of the artist’s permission or consent.
Artists who do not own their copyrights and want to take their music off of Spotify must ask their labels first. For artists signed to multiple labels, as is usually the case, the process can be difficult, time-consuming and disheartening. In the event that the label says “no,” legally speaking, there’s not much that the artist can do.
Besides legal barriers, there are also practical considerations for artists who want to remove their music. Most well-known labels and artists can pull the trigger because, well, they can. The decision to cancel Spotify isn’t so clear for other artists who do not have the financial resources or the clout to fall back on.
Very few artists actually make a living off of Spotify’s dismal streaming royalties. Most artists use Spotify because it’s a marketing tool. Ever wonder how Spotify curates its playlists? Artists submit a pitch for their songs to be selected.
The electronic music market is saturated and marketing has become more important to an artist’s success than ever before. Many artists are dependent on Spotify specifically for marketing. Even if Spotify isn’t their main marketing tool, artists still feel compelled to be on Spotify so that their music will be heard around the globe. These pressures are enough for artists to choose rather than cancel Spotify.
And, let’s be real. Most of us aren’t in the same position as Kanye West.
TikTok is a social media app commonly known for short videos, dance challenges and often incorporating music from various artists. It has quickly become one of the most widely used social media platforms. It’s also become a powerful tool within the music industry. Artists are embracing it as an effective way to connect with their fans as well as promote and better monetize their music. Today it reports it has over 1 billion active users. With so many eyes (and ears) on the platform, why aren’t more techno artists jumping on the TikTok bandwagon? More importantly, just because they can does it mean they should? Are techno and TikTok a match made in heaven or hell?
There’s no doubt about it: the rise of social media created a new paradigm within the dance music industry. The internet provides unlimited opportunities for fans to connect with artists, and for artists to leverage the power of social media to gain new fans. Aside from the typical one-way communication techniques of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, artists and fans are discovering new ways to connect virtually as technology evolves. As DJs try to grow their fanbase, social media can be a powerful tool in reaching new ears and connecting with current fans. So, why do you follow your favorite DJs on social media? Here are five reasons why people follow DJs on social media, do any of them speak to you?
What does it take for a house and techno artist to go from good to great? With thousands of DJs and producers out there, how can you set yourself apart from the rest? Is talent enough to get you noticed? It’s definitely a start but not the only factor. So what else do you need to develop your artist image and build a successful career? Dispersion PR is one of the world’s most reputable public relations (PR) agencies serving the electronic music industry. The agency specializes in PR for artists, events, and music labels and has been doing so for nearly two decades now. Founder and director Julian Shay discusses why PR still holds weight in a time where social media has facilitated self-promotion. He also shares tips on how artists can create a collaborative, productive relationship with music industry members who will ultimately play a vital role in their success.
