Streaming is convenient, but it doesn’t follow the ideals of Thom Yorke, Nigel Godrich, and countless other musicians. As a result, electronic supergroup Atoms For Peace have removed their music from Spotify due to their business model. As Godrich explained via Twitter, “Someone gotta say something. It’s bad for new music…” and it’s “an equation that just doesn’t work”.
This means their 2013 debut album, AMOK, is no longer on the website for free streaming. Spinoff works like Ultraista’s self-titled album and Thom Yorke’s The Eraser are also no longer on Spotify.
Read Nigel Godrich’s string of tweets explaining their reasoning below:
Anyway. Here’s one. We’re off of spotify.. Can’t do that no more man.. Small meaningless rebellion.
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
Someone gotta say something. It’s bad for new music..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
This is just eraser and amok and ultraista..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
The reason is that new artists get paid fuck all with this model.. It’s an equation that just doesn’t work
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
The music industry is being taken over by the back door.. and if we don’t try and make it fair for new music producers and artists…
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
..then the art will suffer. Make no mistake. These are all the same old industry bods trying to get a stranglehold on the delivery system..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
The numbers don’t even add up for spotify yet.. But it’s not about that.. It’s about establishing the model which will be extremely valuable
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
Meanwhile small labels and new artists can’t even keep their lights on. It’s just not right
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
Plus people are scared to speak up or not take part as they are told they will lose invaluable exposure if they don’t play ball. Meanwhile..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
Millions of streams gets them a few thousand dollars.. Not like radio at all..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
Anyway. Thems the breaks. Opinions welcome.. but discussion and new thinking necessary.. If you have a massive catalogue – a major label…
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
..for example.. then you’re quids in. It’s money for old rope.. But making new recorded music needs funding.. Some records can be made in ..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
.. a laptop, but some need musician and skilled technicians.. These things cost money.. Pink floyds catalogue has already generated billions
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
.. of dollars for someone(not necessarily the band) so now putting it on a streaming site makes total sense.. But if people had been ..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
..listening to spotify instead of buying records in 1973… I doubt very much if dark side would have been made.. It would just be too ..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
..expensive. Anyway thumbs hurting now… ;)
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
I think the point is – that streaming suits catalogue.. But cannot work as a way of supporting new artists work.. Spotify and the like ..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
..either have to address that fact and change the model for new releases or else all new music producers should be bold and vote with..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013
..their feet. They have no power without new music..
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2013