Music Streaming Platforms Are Artists Getting Paid What They Deserve

Over the past 25 years, digital music technology has been celebrated as a disruptive force democratizing access to recorded music (Datta et al., 2018; Denegri-Knott, 2015; Giesler, 2008). The assumption is that consumers would always be drawn to a superior, innovative recorded music format that promises them better quality, convenience, unrestricted mobility, freedom of choice and personal fulfilment (Ovedele and Simpson, 2018; Sinclair and Tinson, 2017). Streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music offer consumers convenience and choice, while promising artists global exposure (Baym, 2018; Wikström, 2020). However, this shift from music ownership to streaming has made it difficult for musicians to earn a sustainable income, as streaming payments are minimal, often just fractions of a penny per play (Hesmondhalgh, 2021). Although streaming can offer visibility, its revenue model heavily favours providers and major labels, leaving independent artists with limited leverage and low royalties (Wlömert and Papies, 2016). This study adopts interpretative phenomenological-analytical approach to explore professional musicians’ experiences in the digital marketplace, focusing on their remuneration challenges with streaming platforms. In-depth interviews with artists reveal concerns over their limited control of payment structures and the lack of transparency in algorithms that determine revenue distribution. The collected data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach (Braun and Clarke, 2006) embedded with an interpretive phenomenological framework (Pietkiewicz and Smith, 2014) and highlight the adverse impacts of the current streaming model on artists’ income and creative autonomy. To address these challenges, we propose a Multi-Tiered Revenue Share (MTRS) model incorporating user-centric payments, fan engagement bonuses, and blockchain technology for a transparent, artist-centred royalty distribution. This model advocates fair compensation linked directly to individual streams, with a guaranteed fixed revenue percentage to support income stability. By leveraging blockchain’s transparency and user-centric innovations, MTRS aims to create a more equitable remuneration structure, benefiting all stakeholders in the recorded music industry. The proposed model underscores the potential of blockchain to foster sustainable solutions for artists, setting the groundwork for future policy reforms that better support musicians financially.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

PhD

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

De Montfort University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Eti, Anowara Akter

Licence

• https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstreams/b22599e1-09c7-410d-8f13-74fc58493302/download