Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich have heavily criticised Spotify‘s business model in recent days, suggesting it deliberately underpays artists in order to benefit major labels.
Now Spotify has responded, releading a statement in which it says it is “100% committed to making Spotify the most artist-friendly music service possible”.
Radiohead producer Godrich has removed the album he recently made with Yorke, Atoms For Peace’s AMOK, from Spotify. Yorke’s solo LP The Eraser and Godrich’s own Ultraísta are also now unavailable.
Radiohead albums such as The Bends, OK Computer and Kid A – all released on EMI and all worked on by Godrich – remain on Spotify, but 2007’s In Rainbow’s is missing.
“Spotify’s goal is to grow a service which people love, ultimately want to pay for, and which will provide the financial support to the music industry necessary to invest in new talent and music,” Spotify said in a statement.
“We want to help artists connect with their fans, find new audiences, grow their fan base and make a living from the music we all love.
“Right now we’re still in the early stages of a long-term project that’s already having a hugely positive effect on artists and new music. We’ve already paid US$500M to rightsholders so far and by the end of 2013 this number will reach US$1bn. Much of this money is being invested in nurturing new talent and producing great new music.
“We’re 100% committed to making Spotify the most artist-friendly music service possible, and are constantly talking to artists and managers about how Spotify can help build their careers.”
Godrich said this weekend: “Artists get paid fuck all with this model… it’s an equation that just doesn’t work… 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 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.”
In an apparent endorsement, Thom Yorke retweeted all of Godrich’s comments, before stating: “Make no mistake new artists you discover on #Spotify will no get paid. meanwhile shareholders will shortly being rolling in it. Simples.” Responding to criticism like Street’s, he said: “For me In Rainbows was a statement of trust .people still value new music. That’s all we’d like from Spotify – don’t make us the target.”Music Business Worldwide
