I think a better payout structure for Spotify would be to go per-user. For example, for each subscriber a given amount from their subscription plan is earmarked for payouts. Let's say about 4$ per user. We divide that amount by the number of streams the user had that month, and we simply pay that amount to the artist.
Examples:
- I only listened to one song this month? The full 4$ go to that artist.
- I listened to 2 albums by 2 artists this month, on repeat? 2$ each (assuming the same number of plays for each)
- I listened to 399 tracks from one artist, and one track for another? 3.99$ to the first and 0.01$ to the second.
- The gym next door is streaming Mariah Carey's Chrismas album on repeat? Their 4$ goes to Mariah Carey and mine still goes to the artists I enjoy.
I think the current model of per-stream across the whole platform distorts the playing field towards more popular artists that play in commercial settings.
Examples:
- I only listened to one song this month? The full 4$ go to that artist.
- I listened to 2 albums by 2 artists this month, on repeat? 2$ each (assuming the same number of plays for each)
- I listened to 399 tracks from one artist, and one track for another? 3.99$ to the first and 0.01$ to the second.
- The gym next door is streaming Mariah Carey's Chrismas album on repeat? Their 4$ goes to Mariah Carey and mine still goes to the artists I enjoy.
I think the current model of per-stream across the whole platform distorts the playing field towards more popular artists that play in commercial settings.