St. Vincent criticizes music streaming platforms for favoring repeatable tracks over deeply emotive music, highlighting the financial struggles artists face under this model.
St. Vincent, the acclaimed musician known for her innovative sound and thought-provoking lyrics, has recently voiced her concerns about the current state of music streaming. “Streaming incentivizes songs to be consumable over and over again,” she stated, highlighting a significant issue in the industry where emotionally impactful music often misses out on fair royalties.
The Streaming Dilemma
In a candid interview with Billboard, Anne Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent, discussed the challenges faced by artists in the streaming era. She pointed out that while streaming platforms like Spotify have revolutionized music distribution, they also favor tracks that are played repeatedly.
This model, she argues, disadvantages music that holds deep emotional value but isn’t necessarily played on a daily basis.
“If you are a big pop artist, streaming is fine,” Clark explained. “But there is some music that reaches you very deeply but isn’t music that you put on every single day. I’m not going to listen to John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme every day. It’s one of the most pivotal records of my life, but I’m not going to stream it over and over.”
The Impact on Artists
Clark’s critique extends to the financial implications for artists. Streaming platforms typically pay between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream, a rate that many musicians find insufficient. This payment structure means that artists who create deeply resonant but less frequently played music often struggle to earn a sustainable income.
“Streaming incentivizes songs to be consumable over and over again,” Clark reiterated. “Now, certainly there’s great music you want to consume like that – but there’s a lot of music that’s excellent and doesn’t fall into that category. And those artists, because of streaming, are wilting on the vine.”
AI and the Future of Music
In addition to her concerns about streaming, Clark also touched on the rise of artificial intelligence in music production.
She expressed a nuanced view, noting that while AI has potential, it also poses risks. “In some ways, I’m more concerned about artists sounding like AI than I am AI sounding like artists,” she remarked, emphasizing the importance of maintaining human creativity and authenticity in music.
Commitment to Artistic Integrity
St. Vincent also shared her thoughts on the creative process, advocating for the importance of committing to artistic decisions. “I like committing the sounds, because instead of building a house on sand, you’re building a house on a firm foundation of an idea,” she said. “It would make me too crazy, I think, with unexplored possibilities, to record everything dry and then put a bunch of plugins on them.
That would make me crazy – because you’ve made no decisions.”
Why This Matters
For music producers, St. Vincent’s insights are a crucial reminder of the evolving landscape of the music industry. The current streaming model, while beneficial for some, can marginalize artists whose work doesn’t fit the mold of high-repeatability.
This calls for a re-evaluation of how streaming platforms compensate artists, ensuring that all forms of music can thrive. Additionally, her comments on AI and artistic commitment highlight the need for maintaining creative integrity in an increasingly digital world.
For more on the impact of streaming on artists, check out this article on Spotify’s payout structure.
To explore St. Vincent’s latest work, listen to her new album All Born Screaming.
Really appreciated St. Vincent talking about the streaming challenge. It’s something a lot of us fans don’t think about, but it’s super important. Artists need to be paid fair for their work, and it’s cool she’s bringing that into the light.
I wonder if there’s a better way to support artists outside of streaming. Buying vinyls maybe?
Vinyls, really? Last time I checked, not everyone’s into the vintage craze. But hey, whatever helps the artists, right?
sheryll, your article nailed it. It’s tough out here for us musicians, trying to make a real go of it in the streaming world. Artists need more support, and it’s high time the streaming giants listened up.
Interesting to see artists like St. Vincent tackle the issue of streaming and music. The tech community could potentially come up with new platforms or models to better support artists. Any programmers interested in brainstorming?
hey, so i heard some artists are like fighting the streaming thing but also kinda need it? sounds like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, huh. also why’s it always about money, can’t we just enjoy the tunes lol?
The article presents valid points about the streaming era challenges. However, it’s also worth noting that digital platforms have enabled unprecedented access to audiences worldwide. It’s a double-edged sword, indeed.