This has been coming for a while. Over 90 hit songwriters have penned a letter addressed to Spotify founder Daniel Ek calling on him to cancel the streaming firm’s appeal of new Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) payment rates in the United States.
The letter, dated yesterday (April 9), is particularly notable for being undersigned by a number of nominees and winners of Spotify’s ‘Secret Genius‘ Awards, which have taken place in November over the past two years in LA, celebrating songwriters and producers.
Those who have signed the new letter include Ali Tamposi, Babyface, Emily Warren, Frank Dukes, Greg Kurstin, Nile Rodgers (pictured), Oak Felder, Starrah, Steve Mac and Teddy Geiger, amongst many more.
They tell Ek that they’re “hurt and disappointed” by Spotify’s appeal against the new CRB rates, from which songwriters are set to derive a US streaming royalty rate increase of around 44% by 2022. Others who have appealed the CRB decision include Amazon, Google and Pandora, while Apple stands alone in declining to challenge the rates.
Adds the letter, in reference to Spotify’s ‘Secret Genius’ initiative: “You have used us and tried to divide us but we stand together. Our fight is for all songwriters: those struggling to build their career, those in the middle class and those few who have reached your Secret Genius level. But none of us are “secret!” WE all create the ONE thing you sell… songs.’
You can read the full letter, obtained by MBW, with the full list of songwriter signees, below.
Dear Spotify:
We’re hurt and disappointed. You created a songwriter relations team and ingratiated Spotify into our community. We know that you are not the only DSP appealing the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) rate determination. You are, however, the only provider that made us feel we were working to build a modern music industry together.
Now, we can see the real reason for your songwriter outreach. You have used us and tried to divide us but we stand together. Our fight is for all songwriters: those struggling to build their career, those in the middle class and those few who have reached your Secret Genius level. But none of us are “secret!” WE all create the ONE thing you sell… songs.
Do the right thing and drop your appeal of the Copyright Royalty Board rate determination.
Sincerely,
Not So Secret Geniuses
Alex Hope, Ali Tamposi, Ammar Malik, Amy Allen, Andres Torres & Mauricio Rengifo, Andrew Goldstein, Ashley Gorley, Asia Whiteacre, Babyface, Barry Dean, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Bibi Bourelly, Billy Steinberg, Brett James, Brian Lee, Brody Brown, busbee, Captain Cuts, Caroline Ailin, Chloe Angelides, Cirkut, Claudia Brant, Cook Classics, Danja, Dave Bassett, David Garcia, David Hodges, David Pramik, Doc McKinney, Ed Drewett, Electric, Emily Warren, Emily Weisband, Evan Bogart, Frank Dukes, Giorgio Tuinfort, Greg Kurstin, Greg Wells, Ian Kirkpatrick, Ilsey Juber, Jason Evigan, Jaycen Joshua, Jesse Frasure, Jin Jin, Joe Kirkland and Jason Dean from Whiskey Water, Johnny Yukon, Jonas Jeberg, Josh Osborne, Jozzy, J.T. Harding, Lori McKenna, Louis Bell, Luke Laird, Ludwig Goransson, Lunch Money Lewis, Madison Love, Marcella Araica, Mike Elizondo, Mike Wise, Mr. Hudson, Murda Beatz, Nasri Atweh, Neil Ormandy, Nic Nac, Nicolle Galyon, Nile Rodgers, Oak Felder, Priscilla Renee, Rob Knox, Rodney Clawson, RØMANS, Ross Copperman, Ross Golan, Ruth Anne Cunningham, Sarah Aarons, Scott Harris, Sebastian Kole, Sebastian Krys, Serban Ghenea, Shane McAnally, Simon Wilcox, Sir Nolan, Starrah, Steve Mac, Teddy Geiger, The Futuristics, The Orphanage [Trevor Brown and Zaire Koalo], T-Minus, TMS, Tricky Stewart, Vinylz, Wayne Hector, Western Weiss, Zach Crowell
Music Business Worldwide
