When Bloomberg reported that Spotify would be upping the cost of its premium subscription from $9.99 to $10.99, and including 15 hours of audiobooks per month in the U.S., the change sounded like a win for songwriters and publishers. Higher subscription prices typically equate to a bump in U.S. mechanical royalties — but not this time.

By adding audiobooks into Spotify’s premium tier, the streaming service now claims it qualifies to pay a discounted “bundle” rate to songwriters for premium streams, given Spotify now has to pay licensing for both books and music from the same price tag — which will only be a dollar higher than when music was the only premium offering. Additionally, Spotify will reclassify its duo and family subscription plans as bundles as well.

  • deranger@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    Not sure if this is exactly good news, but Epic Games doesn’t own it anymore, it was sold to Songtradr.

    • can@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      the largest music licensing platform in the world

      Doesn’t sound too good to me. Bandcamp used to be where I could get music from smaller artists who couldn’t afford clearing samples (as they weren’t making money) and I worry a lot of that will be lost.

      • deranger@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Still is, for now. I run a small vaporwave tape label via Bandcamp. No significant changes under Epic Games or Songtradr that I’ve noticed. That could change, though.

        • supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz
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          2 months ago

          It will change, I promise you. I am so confident I will literally bet my girlfriend’s chihuahua on it.

          wikipedia chihuahua

          better hope lefties and artists get their shit together you tiny little monster

          • can@sh.itjust.works
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            2 months ago

            Everyone on Lemmy and the fediverse as a whole should be aware of this pattern. I just hope something can fill in before it gets too bad.

            I’m keeping an eye on Faircamp.