“You have used us” songwriters tell Spotify
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- Songwriters’ stinging open letter to Spotify
- NSAI, NMPA statements about Spotify, Amazon challenge to songwriter royalty increase
As you know by now, the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) recently issued a ruling raising songwriters’ rates for streaming and other mechanical uses by more than 44 percent. Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) led the fight to achieve this ruling on behalf of song creators.
“You cannot feed a family when you earn hundreds of dollars for millions of streams.” – Bart Herbison, NSAI Executive Director
The rate increase came after a lengthy trial where the NMPA and NSAI faced tech giants Google, Apple, Amazon, Spotify and Pandora. This huge victory for songwriters is now in jeopardy due to the streaming services’ filing.
NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison stated, “It is unfortunate that Amazon and Spotify decided to file an appeal on the CRB’s decision to pay American songwriters higher digital mechanical royalties. Many songwriters have found it difficult to stay in the profession in the era of streaming music. You cannot feed a family when you earn hundreds of dollars for millions of streams.
“Spotify specifically continues to try and depress royalties to songwriters around the globe as illustrated by their recent moves in India. Trying to work together as partners toward a robust future in the digital music era is difficult when any streaming company fails to recognize the value of a songwriter’s contribution to their business.”
‘Attempt to cut songwriter pay by one third’
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