Spotify: Good Idea? Bad Idea?

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Spotify, (just in case you’ve been asleep for the past month) is a Swedish music service that allows users to listen to full albums streaming on the Internet for free.  All the user needs to do is download the app and they have instant access to hundreds of thousands of songs on their desktop. They cannot download or transfer the music with this service, but they can create playlists to share with other Spotify users. Other paid levels of this service allow access to the database via your mobile device that is ad free, and available both on-line or off. It started as Spotify AB, available in Europe as of October 2008. In July of this year, it became available to the United States by invitation only. What does this mean for independent musicians?

As an independent or unsigned artist, the most important thing you can do is to expose your music to as many audiences as possible. Spotify guarantees widespread exposure by mixing your music with other major artists in the same genre. Allowing users to listen to your music for free, creates a legal way for potential fans to “try before the buy” without having to steal your music from the web. With this service, users can share playlists through social media, drawing a new following and introducing your music to an audience who otherwise may never have come across your album. Fans are also persuaded to spend their money on concerts/shows and merchandise since they have not had to purchase the music itself. Another plus are the royalties you receive every time your music is played. The service can also generate consumer reports so that you can track your audience and see what songs fans are listening to regularly.

Fans get to hear not just select songs, but your entire album for free. The number of plays is unlimited (with Premium service), so why should they bother to buy, especially if they can also listen on their mobile phone. They would be able to bring the music with them in the car and everywhere else they go.  In order to be included in the service, you must already be connected to their list of aggregators. Although you get royalties, Major labels are shareholders in Spotify and earn more money per play that their unsigned counterparts. According to a PDA: The Digital Content Blog, independent artists are getting short-changed with regards to revenue.

All in all, although you can’t count on Spotify to pay your rent, as an unsigned artist, it can only help. Building your fan base should be top priority and you will be surprised how many fans want to support you and  buy your albums anyway. Giving people a way to sample your music will bring new fans to your shows and can help pull your band from obscurity. 



~all photos from Warner Bros. animation sketch "Good Idea, Bad Idea" from the cartoon Animaniacs