Because a song being played on a radio station and it being available on Spotify are even close to the same thing.
I don't know that I can blame her, really.
For the on-demand bit no, but the free stream that's like Pandora?
That's pretty much just like a terrestrial radio station. The only difference is that Pandora pays more than terrestrial radio.
Aloe Black spoke on Pandora and Spotify's meager returns
http://www.wired.com/2014/11/aloe-blacc-pay-songwriters/
Pandora pays the compulsory rate (a higher percentage than what terrestrial radio pays) to song writers.
http://title17.net/archives/378
Pandora also has to pay performance royalties (which terrestrial radio does not).
That is about 1/10th of a cent per stream.
http://theseayfirm.com/i-read-ten-a...as-confused-demystifying-streaming-royalties/
how much did he make from radio spins? cd sales? concerts? appearances?
and that's one song, what about his other songs? I don't think he or other artists are hurting for cash at least the one's pulling songs and complaining.
No artist gets a performance royalty from terrestrial radio in the US. Only songwriters get paid there. And they get less than the compulsory license for non-interactive digital services like Pandora.
How did Pandora and Spotify even get through with that? I guess they make more sense for bands who need a breakthrough hit and are not for well established stars.
Compulsory licenses for non-interactive streams (like Pandora) are set by a court under a consent decree due to the monopoly power of the rights organizations.
I think that artists have a legitimate axe to grind in regards to the absurdly low payout they get from the streaming services.
A lot of that has to do with prior legal agreements and the fact that terrestrial radio pays a WHOLE LOT LESS.
And yet they're ok with radio?
ONE MILLION SPINS sounds astronomical....
But Spotify is usually one play = one listener.
Meanwhile, a popular station plays the same song ten times in one day, and it's the equivalent one million listens.
How much did the radio station play per spin?
Radio station pays -zero- to the performer. It only pays the songwriters.
So because Aloe Blacc theoretically makes a bunch of money he should just suck it up and take whatever royalty Pandora wants to pay him. Okay.
Pandora doesn't set its royalty rate.
The rate is set by a court for reasons stated above.
She basically wanted to be paid at least $x per listen. $x was more than what she gets from the free stream. The paid stream gives her more than $x, but you can't only be on the paid steam. So she's on neither.
I can't blame her. Her work is in demand and Spotify wants to buy it for peanuts. Refusing to sell at their price is completely reasonable.
Interactive services don't get to use the compulsory licenses which is why she can negotiate there. But really, this is no different than when a network fights with a cable or satellite provider.
AMC vs Dish, ESPN vs Comcast, Taylor vs Spotify, it's all the same and it's all about money.