Making a Scene Presents – Spotify’s Power Grab and the Web3 Escape Route: How Indie Artists Can Take Back Their Rights, Data, and Money Spotify’s new Terms of Service (August 2025) quietly tighten the leash around artists. The fine print is filled with loaded words like royalty-free, sublicensable, irrevocable, and transferable. At the same time, […]
The article discusses the detrimental effects of centralized music streaming platforms like Spotify on indie artists. It highlights issues such as unequal algorithmic exposure, low royalties, and pay-to-play practices that undermine musicians’ visibility and income. Emerging decentralized platforms using blockchain technology offer fairer compensation, closer artist-fan relationships, and a more equitable music industry.
Web3 is revolutionizing the music industry by empowering artists to connect directly with fans, allowing them to earn more through NFTs and smart contracts. Major companies like Warner and Universal are investing in this technology to adapt to new business models that enhance fan engagement and create fairer revenue streams.
The article guides indie artists on transitioning from traditional platforms like Bandcamp to a decentralized Web3 ecosystem. It emphasizes advantages like greater control, new revenue streams, and direct fan engagement using blockchain technology. The steps include understanding Web3 commerce basics, choosing a blockchain, setting up a crypto wallet, and building a tokenized storefront for enhanced community interaction.
Spotify’s Discovery Mode has emerged as a modern equivalent to payola, allowing artists to receive algorithmic boosts at the cost of reduced royalties. This model disadvantages indie artists by prioritizing wealthier labels and sacrificing income for visibility. Decentralized platforms may offer a fairer alternative, ensuring artists maintain control and direct compensation.