Sometimes, I see some of the takes on here, and it’s hardly surprising that the fediverse isn’t particularly popular.
Spotify are somewhat responsible for their current position. They hired too many people, extended into markets they didn’t need to enter, and have a CEO that has blown money in places that didn’t need it. Let’s not forget that Spotify spent $300m on sponsoring FC Barcelona, which could have allowed Spotify to employ ALL of the employees it laid off for 1-2 years. Spotify had no need to give $200m to Joe Rogan, either! That’s half a billion spunked up the wall on decisions that have done nothing for the company but cause grief. Instead, they could have focused their efforts on paying more out to smaller artists that provide the long tail for their service, while also making deals to promote merch and tour dates where possible.
With that being said, if you think that Spotify didn’t play a huge part in making music streaming accessible you’re just being contrarian for no reason. They provided (at the time) a solid application, good connectivity with services like last.fm, and had the social connection sorted from the start. Once phones took off, Spotify removed the need for mp3’s for the majority of people, largely killing iTunes. Spotify was the winner of the music streaming wars.
Frankly, a lot of people were praising Spotify for their “good” severance package, but IMO shareholders should be livid, and should be calling for a new person at the helm.
themurphy@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Honestly, Spotify is only half bad compared to the real scumbags of this industry, and that’s the “rights holders”.
It’s not the artists who created the music I’m talking about. It’s the record companies taking the largest piece for themselves.
They are the ones earning on other people’s talent and success.
residentmarchant@lemmy.world 11 months ago
But…but…muh “discovery”
jsh@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
I’ll die on that hill. 90% of the artists I listen to, I found through spotify’s algorithms.
can@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Well, their CEO Daniel Ek’s investment company Prima Materia "invested €100 million ($114 million USD) in Helsing, an artificial intelligence company based out of Europe that assists in military technological ventures. "
So I’m happy to take my steaming business elsewhere.
blazeknave@lemmy.world 11 months ago
After being the earliest adopter of free and paid that I know personally (and I work in tech), Joe Rogan was the nail in the coffin for me. I was already paying for YouTube premium (download for subway, and close screen while playing) and saw music was included so the decision was simple.
Mango@lemmy.world 11 months ago
What does a record company even do? Why do they have rights?
lemann@lemmy.one 11 months ago
In the day and age of streaming sercices like Spotify, they should not exist IMO.
Back when people purchased their music from brick and mortar stores on vinyls, cassettes, and CDs, they had a place to facilitate a relationship with distributors etc to get your music on the shelves. Nowadays, this stuff can be done digitally, independently.
rigatti@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Basically they fund artists to record and then handle things like promotion.