Detroit backs federal push to boost musicians’ pay on streaming platforms - Detroit Metro Times

Detroit City Council Unanimously Backs Plan to Boost Musicians' Pay on Streaming Platforms

In a move that could have far-reaching implications for the music industry, the Detroit City Council has unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Living Wage for Musicians Act, a federal proposal aimed at overhauling the way artists are paid for digital streams.

The legislation, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), seeks to create a new royalty stream paid directly to artists, separate from the industry's existing pro-rata system that often favors big acts and major labels. Under the plan, a small surcharge would be added to streaming subscriptions, capped between $4 and $10, with platforms contributing a share of their advertising revenue.

The bill aims to ensure that musicians who drive the streaming economy can afford to build sustainable careers, rather than just surviving on meager payments. Currently, artists often earn fractions of a cent per stream, with some earning as little as $0.003 per play. To earn a living wage, an artist needs more than 800,000 monthly streams.

Detroit's resolution highlights the city's significant influence on music, with many renowned musicians hailing from the Motor City. Supporters argue that the legislation could help keep Detroit's creative workforce in the city, rather than driving them out to seek better pay and opportunities.

The bill has gained support from working musicians, including Detroit producer and WDET host Shigeto, who have criticized the existing system for leaving many artists struggling. Advocates say the plan would allow more artists to record, tour, and connect with fans, while helping musicians make a living in cities like Detroit.

With the city's backing, Tlaib reiterates her commitment to ensuring that the people who create music are paid a fair wage. "It's only right that the people who create the music we love are paid a living wage, so that they can thrive, not just survive," she said when introducing the bill last year.

Detroit's decision follows in the footsteps of New York City, which passed a similar resolution in May. As the music industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether this legislation will become law and have a lasting impact on artists' earnings.
 
I'm loving this development, btw 💸🎵. I mean, think about it, the current system is literally rigged against musicians. They're basically fighting for pennies while the platforms are raking it in 🤑. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we'll let you keep making music as long as you don't ask for too much 💸." But what if the city of Detroit, which has a rich history of music production, is like, "Nope, not on our watch" 🚫? This resolution sends a strong message that fair pay is essential for creative workers. It's all about ensuring artists can actually make a living from their craft, you feel me? And let's be real, this could have major implications for the music industry as a whole 🎶. We're talking about artists being able to stay in cities like Detroit instead of getting driven out by poverty 🌆. It's a win-win for both the city and the music community 👏.
 
I'm kinda surprised they're doing this now lol I was thinking about switching to ad-free streaming service last month but saw that my fave artist got like 3 cents per stream back in the day 🤑 anyways, it's all good that Detroit is supporting the living wage for musicians act! hopefully this change will help artists focus on making music instead of just scraping by
 
🤩 I'm low-key stoked about this one, fam! The fact that Detroit City Council is all for this Living Wage for Musicians Act is HUGE. I mean, we've been hearing the same complaints from musicians out there for ages - they're not getting paid what they deserve, and it's affecting their ability to create and perform music. This plan could literally change the game. Plus, it's not just about the money (although that's a big part of it). It's about artists being able to live their best lives and still have time to make music we love. Shigeto, I'm looking at you, bro! 🎶
 
🤯 I'm all about giving those creatives a fair shot! The fact that Detroit's gone ahead and backed a plan that could give musicians a decent wage is a major win. I mean, can you imagine if everyone who was good at something got paid the same? It'd be crazy 💸. But seriously, artists are literally the backbone of music as we know it. Without them, there's no sound to stream or buy. So, let's get them what they deserve – a living wage that lets them live life on their own terms 🎶. And who knows, maybe this'll inspire other cities to do the same? That'd be awesome! 🤝
 
so like the idea of musicians getting paid more for their streams is kinda cool, right? but i wonder how much of that extra money would actually reach the artists... i mean, if platforms are contributing some share of their ad revenue, that's gotta be better than nothing, but still... some people make like $0.003 per play 🤑

and what's with the cap on the surcharge? like why can't it just be more or less depending on the platform? and how much would it really change things for artists who already have a big following? would they just get rich off of it? 💸

i also wonder if this is just a way to help out some specific groups of musicians, like those from detroit... i mean, what about all the other cities and genres that are getting left behind? 🤔
 
I'm actually kinda stoked about this 🤩! I mean, can you imagine if every city in the world followed Detroit's lead? It's like, a dream come true for all those talented musicians out there who are struggling to make ends meet. The fact that they're considering a small surcharge on streaming subscriptions might seem like a lot at first, but think about it - $4-$10 per month isn't too much if you ask me 🤑. And the benefits would be huge! Artists could finally afford to focus on their craft instead of just trying to scrape by. Plus, it'd keep the music scene in cities like Detroit thriving, which is just awesome. I'm all for supporting our artists and making sure they're taken care of 💖.
 
omg u no how frustrating its 2 b a musician rn & make pennies off ur own creations!!! 🤑💸 detroit city council is def doin somethin rite by supportin ths living wage 4 musicians act tho 🙌 shigeto @wdet n all those other talented ppl in detroit r highlighenin how unfair its 2 be makin pennies off streams wen u gotta have like, a milin streamz 2 even earn livin wage lol 🤑👀 gotta keep an eye on ths bill & hop it gets passed 4 good 😊
 
🤔 I mean, come on, it's about time someone did something about the streaming platforms and their ridiculous pay rates for musicians 🤑. I've been saying it for ages, but you'd think people would listen – 0.003 cents per play is NOT a living wage, folks! 💸 I'm all for supporting local artists, especially from Detroit, which has such an amazing music scene 🎶. The idea of adding a small surcharge to streaming subscriptions and having platforms contribute to their ad revenue is genius 🤑. It's not like we're asking for the moon here, just fair compensation for creators who make our lives more enjoyable with their tunes 🎵. And let's be real, if it helps keep Detroit's creative workforce from leaving the city, that's a win-win 🤝.
 
💡 I'm super stoked to see Detroit City Council backing this plan to boost musicians' pay on streaming platforms! It's all about fairness, you know? 🤝 These artists are creating music that makes our lives more amazing, and it's not too much to ask for a decent wage, right? 😊 The fact that they're earning fractions of a cent per stream is just crazy! 💸 I mean, who wouldn't want to make at least $4-10 extra from their streams? 🤑 It's time for the platforms to step up and support our favorite musicians. Fingers crossed this legislation becomes law and changes the game for artists everywhere! 🎶💖
 
I'm so stoked about this 🤩! The fact that Detroit's city council is backing the Living Wage for Musicians Act is a total game-changer 💪. I mean, it's not like we don't already know how broken the streaming system is – think of all those artists struggling to make ends meet on pennies per stream 😔. But this new plan could actually create some real change 🔄.

I love that Shigeto and other musicians are speaking out about the issue 💬. It's time for us to start valuing their contributions more 🤑. And let's be real, a fair wage for artists is not just good business sense – it's also a matter of respect 👏. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this bill actually becomes law and helps turn the music industry around 🤞.
 
I gotta say, its crazy that some artists are only earning pennies per stream 🤑🎶, while others are raking it in. I mean, if you're gonna make us listen to your music over and over again, shouldn't we get a decent cut of the action? 💸 I'm all for helping out our local musicians, but this is like, take care of yourself, don't just expect everyone else to bail ya out 🤷‍♂️. Detroit's resolution is definitely a step in the right direction, and if it gets passed into law, that'll be awesome 🎉!
 
I think it's awesome that Detroit is stepping up for its own musicians 🎵💪. The current system just doesn't seem fair, you know? Artists are literally getting pennies for their work, while the big labels and platforms get to reap all the benefits. Adding a small surcharge to streaming subscriptions could make a huge difference in their lives 💸.

It's not like we're asking for much, right? Just a living wage that lets them build sustainable careers and create music they love 🎨. And hey, if it helps keep Detroit's creative workforce local, that's a win-win for the city too 🏙️.

I'm all for supporting artists and making sure they get paid what they deserve 💕. It's about time we give them the recognition they do, you know? Maybe this is just the start of something bigger, and we'll see some real change in the music industry soon 🎶.
 
🎶 I'm so stoked about this development! It's about time we acknowledge that musicians are more than just background noise 🙄. They're the ones creating the magic, pouring their hearts out to us, and what do they get in return? pennies 😢. A living wage is not too much to ask for, especially when you consider how much streaming services make from our playlists 🤑. This bill could be a game-changer for artists like Shigeto who are already pushing the boundaries of music in Detroit 💥. Let's keep the momentum going and hope it gets passed into law! 🤞
 
OMG, you guys! 🤯 The Detroit City Council just gave a major thumbs up to a plan that could totally change the game for musicians on streaming platforms! 💸 They're talking about creating a new royalty stream that would give artists a fair share of the profits, rather than just getting scraps from the big acts and labels. It's about time, right? 🤷‍♀️ I mean, have you ever tried to make ends meet as an artist? It's tough, especially when you're not even making enough to cover your rent let alone tour and perform. This plan could be a total game-changer for artists who drive the streaming economy. Fingers crossed it becomes law and we see some real change in the music industry! 🤞
 
omg u no how much musicians r struggling 2 make ends meet online 🤯 i mean its not just detroit either its like everywhere but this resolution is like yay for musicians!!! 🎵💸 my cousin who plays the guitar was saying that he gets like pennies per stream lol thats crazy and yeah its not fair that they have to rely on fans 2 pay their bills 🤦‍♂️ i hope this law happens soon so we can see a change in the music industry 💕
 
I'm so down with this new plan 🤩🎵! I mean, can you even imagine having to scrape by just $0.003 per play? It's crazy! My school's music club would be able to pay their members better and actually have the funds for more gigs and performances. I've seen some of my friends struggle to make ends meet after college because they couldn't get paid enough from streaming platforms. This could really make a difference in the music industry, especially in cities like Detroit that are known for producing talented artists 🎶💪
 
man this is about time 🤩 we've been living off pennies from those streaming services for years now gotta give props to Rep Tlaib for takin the lead on this one 💪 800k streams per month ain't no joke, it's a whole lotta work goin in for some meager pay, so yeah this resolution is a step in the right direction 🚀 and it's dope that Detroit's comin out strong supportin its own creative crew 💕 now let's see if this bill makes it through the system and gets those artists the paycheck they deserve 💸
 
🤯 can't believe they're finally taking action about this 🎶 streaming industry is a joke! artists are basically living off scraps while these big labels and platforms make bank 💸 800k streams needed to earn a living wage? come on, that's not even fair 😒 detroit city council doing the right thing tho 👍
 
I'm telling you, this is about time someone did something about those streaming platforms 🤑. I mean, who gets paid like $0.003 per stream? That's crazy! It's not fair to the artists who are actually creating all that music. They need to be able to make a living off their art, you know? And it's not just about them, it's about the whole music scene in cities like Detroit. If they can get paid a decent wage, they'll stay and keep making great music 🎶. I'm glad the city council is backing this plan, it's a step in the right direction 💪.
 
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