Sam Duboff

you're getting at all the complexity of it where artists and songwriters hopefully more and more are starting to understand what they're signing before they sign it. But they often might not realize those terms until it's too late, until it's later on. And yeah, that's where it gets really challenging.

you're getting at all the complexity of it where artists and songwriters hopefully more and more are starting to understand what they're signing before they sign it. But they often might not realize those terms until it's too late, until it's later on. And yeah, that's where it gets really challenging.

And I think also it's kind of almost an accounting question. When the artist gets a big advance, the reason the label's paying that advance is cause of the streaming royalties. They know how much money is coming in. Yeah.

And I think also it's kind of almost an accounting question. When the artist gets a big advance, the reason the label's paying that advance is cause of the streaming royalties. They know how much money is coming in. Yeah.

streaming royalties are paying that advance but it feels like it's coming from the label and obviously the label has other sources of revenue too but that's part of it you kind of think oh i should be getting these royalty checks i already got that advance that's from the label it's like actually you know over 80 of a lot label revenues coming from streaming that's what's paying the advance and a lot of artists don't think about that as part of what they're earning from streaming

streaming royalties are paying that advance but it feels like it's coming from the label and obviously the label has other sources of revenue too but that's part of it you kind of think oh i should be getting these royalty checks i already got that advance that's from the label it's like actually you know over 80 of a lot label revenues coming from streaming that's what's paying the advance and a lot of artists don't think about that as part of what they're earning from streaming

Yeah, I mean, this is why I'm so passionate about more transparency for artists in the music industry, because it's really about the options they have, just like you're saying. For some artists, they're going to want that big advance to, you know, let them focus on their art. They might want a big team around them. They might not feel as comfortable doing it themselves.

Yeah, I mean, this is why I'm so passionate about more transparency for artists in the music industry, because it's really about the options they have, just like you're saying. For some artists, they're going to want that big advance to, you know, let them focus on their art. They might want a big team around them. They might not feel as comfortable doing it themselves.

There's other artists who are going to want the indie label path where, you know, you get fewer services, you get to keep a bigger cut, but you still have a bit of a team around you. And, you know, there'll be different terms there that can... you know, be a little bit more in the favor of the artist.

There's other artists who are going to want the indie label path where, you know, you get fewer services, you get to keep a bigger cut, but you still have a bit of a team around you. And, you know, there'll be different terms there that can... you know, be a little bit more in the favor of the artist.

And then, you know, the $10 billion in royalties Spotify paid out last year, 50% of them went to indies. And so that's indie labels and artists who are self-releasing their own music. And so for some artists, they want to build their own team around them. They want to do things themselves. They're figuring out how to use all the tools themselves. And they're keeping 100% of the royalties there.

And then, you know, the $10 billion in royalties Spotify paid out last year, 50% of them went to indies. And so that's indie labels and artists who are self-releasing their own music. And so for some artists, they want to build their own team around them. They want to do things themselves. They're figuring out how to use all the tools themselves. And they're keeping 100% of the royalties there.

All these options are great. I talk to artists all the time. My family members are creatives, and so I know how hard that path can be. For some artists, you just want to be able to focus on the art, have a big team do it around you, and you trust them to do it, but the finances can get quite confusing.

All these options are great. I talk to artists all the time. My family members are creatives, and so I know how hard that path can be. For some artists, you just want to be able to focus on the art, have a big team do it around you, and you trust them to do it, but the finances can get quite confusing.

There's some artists who are way more entrepreneurial, and there's artists making millions a year on Spotify who are keeping 100% of the royalties It's pretty straightforward for them. They're releasing the music. All the money comes in, goes straight to them. That's great, too. That's not for everyone.

There's some artists who are way more entrepreneurial, and there's artists making millions a year on Spotify who are keeping 100% of the royalties It's pretty straightforward for them. They're releasing the music. All the money comes in, goes straight to them. That's great, too. That's not for everyone.

And the importance of transparency is for artists to get, here's the pros and cons of each option, right? Totally. Like, what is a traditional label deal? What's an indie label mean? What tasks do I have to do if I'm doing a DIY?

And the importance of transparency is for artists to get, here's the pros and cons of each option, right? Totally. Like, what is a traditional label deal? What's an indie label mean? What tasks do I have to do if I'm doing a DIY?

That's right. Yeah. At Spotify, we're like, our role is to pay out as much money as possible. to rights holders that artists and songwriters are selecting. And so the more that artists and songwriters know their options, are thinking thoughtfully about what path they do, there's great paths available now because so much money is getting paid out, right? That's the good news.

That's right. Yeah. At Spotify, we're like, our role is to pay out as much money as possible. to rights holders that artists and songwriters are selecting. And so the more that artists and songwriters know their options, are thinking thoughtfully about what path they do, there's great paths available now because so much money is getting paid out, right? That's the good news.