Over 200 labels to have their releases pulled from Spotify
Over 200 record labels will have their releases removed from Spotify and other music streaming services like Napster, after distributor STHoldings announced it would be pulling its content from these online services. The concern is that these streaming services "cannibalise the revenues of more traditional digital services" (via The Wire).
STHoldings are responsible for the distribution of 238 labels. Of those 238, only four have expressed a wish to remain on Spotify, Simfy, Rdio and Napster.
In a statement STHoldings wrote:
"As a distributor we have to do what is best for our labels. The majority of which do not want their music on such services because of the poor revenues and the detrimental affect on sales."
"Add to that the feeling that their music loses its specialness by its exploitation as a low value/free commodity. Quoting one of our labels "Let’s keep the music special, fuck Spotify."
A recent study appeared to find that streaming services like this had a negative effect on music sales, and Spotify themselves also responded to the study, claiming otherwise.
Thoughts? Does Spotify actually increase your music purchasing by using it as a try-before-you-buy type service? Is this a massive own goal, not having music available for millions of people to listen to? Or does it make business sense to pull your the material if you don't think you are really making any money from it?
I got a sneaky suspicion that the artists might be quite unhappy about this
but if the labels aren't getting anything from it then I see no reason why they should keep their music up on the service. But it may discourage bands from signing up the labels as their music won't be as freely available, thus hindering their chances of getting mass exposure.
Let’s keep the music special, fuck Spotify.
So special, no one can hear it.
Did BrightonB make that comment?
Damn.
I hope they don't pull their music from MediaFire as well.
hyper-hurrah!
Thanks for clarifying Marcus. Seemed a bit unlike your label to act like that.
*'Over 200 (mostly very small) labels', almost all of whom only went up on spotify recently, many of whom (swamp81 for example) don't even put their releases up for download anyway!
lot of fuss over nothing
When you are on a very small label you'll get pulled from Spotify.
Then you'll sign to bigger label and they'll put you back on Spotify.
Then finally, when you're bigger than Jesus, you'll pull yourself of it and sell your music through your own website.
I loooove Spotify and I've got into so so so much more music than ever
because of it.
But how much of it do I buy? Almost none. If the artist isn't making enough cash from Spotify streams then it's shit.
But also, I write and post about the music I listen to on spotify on blogs and facebook and twitter so it's more exposure.
It's probably bad for music tbh, but in the 21st century, it's the future and Spotify provide a better service than most.
Agree with this viewpoint
Work with the changes, stop fighting what is happening.
If they'd fought it more
they might not be in the mess they're in. It's listening to the selfish pricks that keep telling them they need to embrace no revenues, no copyright protection and everyone helping themselves to your product months before release that enabled them to dig their own graves.
Liked spotify until it usurped my ipod scrobble
Now Last FM thinks I hardly listen to anything anymore. Boohiss.
Since I got Spotify Premium I started buying vinyl again
of artists I would have never been able to explore to that extent otherwise. It is brilliant. Labels should focus on releasing their stuff properly on vinyl instead of worrying about poor quality digital files.
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