Maaaaaaan this is on my MIND! As I ready to release a new album I keep trying to talk myself out of putting it in Spotify. Like, I quite literally won’t see a dime from that (I don’t get enough spins to really see the $) so why would input it up there? Makes sense not to. Morally and economically. Yet still I can’t seem to not … I just prepped a new single for release and somehow couldn’t NOT click the Spotify button! Why?! What a weird hold it has. And I cancelled my subscription eons ago. and it begs the question that I’ve literally asked friends (with no judgement) why do YOU choose Spotify over any other option? Most don’t have a real reason beyond “it’s easy”. Even with the undeniable proof that every song one listens too if funding war machines. What is this strange hold it has over us?!? Truly fascinating.
Like you, I’m disgusted with it all. Gaza, Ukraine, America. I was a soldier for 29 years and I always felt proud to stand up for the people who needed us but this climate of narcissism and intolerance disgusts me. No bravery, no balls, just greed and corruption. Greedy Guys all around.
I've been running this over and over in my mind. I removed myself from FB and IG for months over their behaviour around the Orange Toad. I canceled my Netflix, Disney+, Apple, Crave and Prime. All have made horrific decisions to demonstrate fealty to the @sshole that I found egregious.
They've all donated profusely. Apple removed international women's day from it's calendar and canceled LGBTQ+ and indigenous programing. Netflix gave that racist comedian from Madison Square Gardens a show to platform his hate while removing programming from marginalized groups. Amazon and Facebook have been among the worst for giving money to him and removing programing supporting marginalized groups he might find offensive and protections from false information.
Eventually though, being off FB and IG was compromising my communication with the supporters of my venue so I needed to return. I hope the net positive of what we do offsets the tacit support of these monstrous entities. Many of the artists I love are mistreated by Spotify yet need the streams to get bookings for festivals and venues.
I feel like the characters in the Good Place. It's so complicated, there is no obvious right answer anymore. These platforms have become so ubiquitous you truly struggle to function without at least some level of participation. Particularly in the arts. Spotify is where I can most easily hear the artists, IG is how I initially reach them and FB communicates with my largely Boomer and Gen X supporters. UGH!!!
I'm so disheartened, frustrated and defeated. I don't even know how to resist anymore or if it even matters. Bandcamp is my one salvation in all of this. The one place I go to put money in the pockets of the artists I love when I can't get to their shows.
We resist in our own little ways. Maybe one day we can resist in bigger ways. I hold a little hope that maybe we are in a darkest before the dawn situation!
Maaaaaaan this is on my MIND! As I ready to release a new album I keep trying to talk myself out of putting it in Spotify. Like, I quite literally won’t see a dime from that (I don’t get enough spins to really see the $) so why would input it up there? Makes sense not to. Morally and economically. Yet still I can’t seem to not … I just prepped a new single for release and somehow couldn’t NOT click the Spotify button! Why?! What a weird hold it has. And I cancelled my subscription eons ago. and it begs the question that I’ve literally asked friends (with no judgement) why do YOU choose Spotify over any other option? Most don’t have a real reason beyond “it’s easy”. Even with the undeniable proof that every song one listens too if funding war machines. What is this strange hold it has over us?!? Truly fascinating.
It's Wild!
Like you, I’m disgusted with it all. Gaza, Ukraine, America. I was a soldier for 29 years and I always felt proud to stand up for the people who needed us but this climate of narcissism and intolerance disgusts me. No bravery, no balls, just greed and corruption. Greedy Guys all around.
Thank you for your service and open heart Tom.
This struggle is so complicated.
I've been running this over and over in my mind. I removed myself from FB and IG for months over their behaviour around the Orange Toad. I canceled my Netflix, Disney+, Apple, Crave and Prime. All have made horrific decisions to demonstrate fealty to the @sshole that I found egregious.
They've all donated profusely. Apple removed international women's day from it's calendar and canceled LGBTQ+ and indigenous programing. Netflix gave that racist comedian from Madison Square Gardens a show to platform his hate while removing programming from marginalized groups. Amazon and Facebook have been among the worst for giving money to him and removing programing supporting marginalized groups he might find offensive and protections from false information.
Eventually though, being off FB and IG was compromising my communication with the supporters of my venue so I needed to return. I hope the net positive of what we do offsets the tacit support of these monstrous entities. Many of the artists I love are mistreated by Spotify yet need the streams to get bookings for festivals and venues.
I feel like the characters in the Good Place. It's so complicated, there is no obvious right answer anymore. These platforms have become so ubiquitous you truly struggle to function without at least some level of participation. Particularly in the arts. Spotify is where I can most easily hear the artists, IG is how I initially reach them and FB communicates with my largely Boomer and Gen X supporters. UGH!!!
I'm so disheartened, frustrated and defeated. I don't even know how to resist anymore or if it even matters. Bandcamp is my one salvation in all of this. The one place I go to put money in the pockets of the artists I love when I can't get to their shows.
We resist in our own little ways. Maybe one day we can resist in bigger ways. I hold a little hope that maybe we are in a darkest before the dawn situation!