Artists Push Back Against Spotify Wrapped Amid Streaming Concerns

The annual hype surrounding Spotify Wrapped is generating mixed reactions as artists voice their growing dissatisfaction with the platform. Spotify, with approximately 700 million monthly users, has been promoting Wrapped for nearly a decade, showcasing personalized listening habits and artist highlights. However, as the Christmas party season unfolds, more music fans are considering skipping this digital celebration, reflecting a broader discontent with Spotify’s impact on the music industry.

The anticipation for Spotify Wrapped has been heightened by the platform’s strategy of keeping the release date secret until close to the event. This year, the service introduced features like users’ “listening age” and “personality” insights, along with short thank-you videos from prominent artists. Critics argue that these videos often lack genuine enthusiasm, likening them to performances by individuals held against their will.

In recent months, a backlash has emerged against Spotify’s dominance in the streaming market, primarily led by artists who are increasingly vocal about the platform’s effects on their livelihoods. Will Anderson, a member of the US indie band Hotline TNT, criticized Spotify, stating, “It’s a myth that Spotify loves to perpetuate that they are the ones who solve the problems of how we can find music.” He emphasized that the music industry thrived long before Spotify and will continue after its eventual decline.

Kean Kavanagh, an artist and label owner, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Spotify functions more as a marketing tool than a legitimate platform for music monetization. He remarked, “What Spotify ultimately boils down to is giving away your music for free in the hope of raising your profile.” With Spotify’s royalty rates averaging just $0.004 per stream, artists must accumulate substantial numbers to see any significant revenue. For instance, one million streams yield about $4,000 (approximately €3,400), while competitors like Apple Music pay around $0.01 per stream, translating to about $10,000 (around €8,500) for the same number of plays.

Even artists who previously benefitted from Spotify are reassessing their relationship with the platform. Dermot Kennedy, who has close to 10 million monthly listeners, expressed his concerns about the royalties artists receive. “I don’t want to be the artist who is out there whooping and hollering about a platform that doesn’t pay artists a lot of money,” he noted. His comments highlight a growing awareness that while Spotify has provided exposure, it has not translated into fair compensation for artists.

Listeners are also feeling the impact of Spotify’s model. Critics argue that the service reduces music to a background commodity, often played while multitasking. This shift has transformed music from an art form into mere background noise, with Spotify’s founder, Daniel Ek, amassing significant wealth from the platform’s success. As music consumption trends change, the focus on curated playlists has led to a phenomenon dubbed “Spotifycore,” characterized by a homogenized sound that prioritizes mood over artistic individuality.

Concerns about Spotify’s use of artificial intelligence have also emerged, as the company claims to utilize AI responsibly. Yet, the more pressing issue may be the platform’s overall effect on listener engagement. By prioritizing playlists over full albums, Spotify encourages a consumption model that treats music as disposable. This shift can make discovering new and meaningful music challenging, as tracks often come and go without leaving a lasting impression.

This experience resonates with many users. A former Spotify subscriber recounted how he became captivated by a song on a rival platform’s playlist, only to lose track of it when it disappeared. Such instances illustrate how streaming services can make music feel fleeting, reducing it to a momentary distraction rather than a treasured experience.

As the backlash against Spotify grows, it raises important questions about the future of music consumption and the platforms that facilitate it. Artists and listeners alike are calling for a reevaluation of how music is valued in the digital age, seeking solutions that ensure fair compensation for creators while fostering deeper connections between music and its audience.