Why Some Artists Don’t Put Their Music On Streaming Services

June 20, 2023

In the age of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, it may seem strange that some artists choose not to make their music available on these platforms.

After all, wouldn’t they want their music to be easily accessible to the masses?

The music industry has undergone a major shift in recent years, with streaming services becoming the dominant way that people consume music. However, not all artists are on board with this trend. Some have chosen to keep their music off of streaming platforms, opting instead for physical releases or digital downloads.

So why do some artists choose not to put their music on streaming services? There are a variety of reasons, ranging from financial concerns to artistic integrity. In this article, we’ll explore some of the factors that influence an artist’s decision to keep their music off of streaming platforms.

Licensing Issues With The Record Label

There are some record labels that believe people shouldn’t play or cover their artist’s songs because they’re not profiting off of it. For example, Eagles, which is a band that was formed in the 70s, is signed up with Universal Music Group. The label has at least 60 people to find and remove any unlicensed use of Eagles music from the internet. 

There are many YouTube musicians that base their content on covering popular bands’ music. Unfortunately, there are some bands who don’t enjoy other people covering their songs. There are artists who believe that if you didn’t spend the time writing the music, then you shouldn’t play it. 

Financial Concerns from Streaming Sites 

Many popular artists refuse to load their music onto streaming sites because of financial concerns. Revenue generated from streaming is often much lower than revenue from physical album sales or digital downloads. 


Additionally, artists such as Snoop Dogg have come forward, stating that the record labels are getting all the money while the artists don’t get any profit or royalties for their music. Streaming services often have complex payment structures and contracts, which means that artists may not receive fair compensation for their work. 

Some streaming services may prioritize larger, more established artists over independent or up-and-coming artists, which can make it difficult for lesser-known musicians to get their music noticed and earn a livable income from streaming alone. 

These financial concerns can lead some artists to opt out of streaming services altogether or to seek alternative revenue streams, such as merchandise sales or live performances.

Where to Find Good Music for Various Media 

Music is an important medium for other types of artists, such as TikTok or YouTube personalities. Some people put music over their tutorial videos to create a serene atmosphere when people are viewing their content.

So if you’re scared of copyright claims for your artistic videos, you can use stock music that’s royalty-free. This way, you can continue making content and have peace of mind knowing you won’t get sued for copyright infringements. 

Stock music is a great option for content creators because it provides a cost-effective and efficient way to enhance the audio quality of their content. 

What’s more, Stock music is composed by professional musicians and sound engineers, ensuring that the quality of the music is high. This means that you can add high-quality music to your content without spending a lot of money on hiring a composer or musician.

These tracks are readily available and can be easily downloaded online. This means that you can quickly find the right music for your content and incorporate it into your project without wasting time searching for the perfect track.

The Potential Risk of People Stealing Music 

Streaming sites make it easy for users to access and listen to music without having to purchase it. This convenience can lead to some users downloading music illegally through various means, such as using third-party software or sharing files with others. 

Additionally, streaming sites may not have sufficient security measures in place to prevent unauthorized access or downloads of copyrighted material. This can result in a loss of revenue for artists and their record labels, as well as a potential decrease in the value of their intellectual property. 

The unauthorized distribution of music can lead to a decline in the overall quality of the music industry, as artists may be less incentivized to create new music if they’re not receiving proper compensation for their work.

Some Streaming Sites Devalues Music 

There are streaming sites such as Spotify that have free plans for users. These free plans do have ads, but it’s still a means for listeners to access millions of songs without paying. Some artists don’t appreciate their music being out there for anyone to listen to without some form of payment. 

Artists such as Metallica have fought against streaming sites in the past. Although these artists do get backlash from fans, listeners should realize that creating music is an artist’s profession. If musicians don’t get paid for what they do, they can’t make a living.  

Why Certain Streaming Sites Are Needed 

Certain streaming sites, such as YouTube, are needed because it has over 2 billion active monthly users. Musicians need popular streaming sites to market their music and to bring in new listeners. 

In the past, musicians had to rely on traditional record labels to distribute their music, which often meant giving up a significant portion of their earnings in exchange for the label’s services. 

However, with the rise of streaming sites, musicians now have the ability to distribute their music directly to fans without the need for a record label. Additionally, streaming sites offer tools and analytics that allow musicians to track their performance and see how their music is being received by listeners.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, artists have valid reasons why they don’t like placing their music on certain streaming sites. But if you’re looking for ambient or thrilling music, you can always opt for royalty-free options to use in your content.

This content is part of the HWM Partnership.


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