After taking the time to consider its options, Spotify has rolled out a series of announcements relating to COVID-19 and its efforts to support musicians.
It’s no secret that Covid-19 has thrown most of the music industry into turmoil. Artists are currently unable to tour, which has hurt revenue and promotional efforts, and many don’t know whether or not to continue with plans to release new material. Add to this the fact that manufacturers of physical media (CDs/Vinyl) are closing to slow the spread of the disease and streaming seems to be slowing, and many are wondering what will be the next problem to arise.
Since fears of the novel coronavirus forced musicians off the road in early March, there have been persistent calls for the streaming industry to offer relief. Some have called for Spotify to raise royalty rates, while others have been asking for a lump sum donation to relief organizations. The Swedish company responded to those demands earlier today, March 25, but probably not in the way many anticipated.
In a post on the company’s official blog, Spotify announced plans to match donations to select artist relief organizations up to $10 million. Additionally, Spotify “made contributions to public health organizations and donated ad inventory and platform space to share news and health information with our users,” the post revealed. “We’ve also created a dedicated COVID-19 hub providing our listeners with a go-to place for news and information. And importantly, all the while, we’re continuing to support the health, safety, and livelihoods of our employees. Check out the below graphic for more information—and know that our support will continue to evolve.”
Spotify is also rolling out a new feature to artists. The company will soon unveil a donation button that can be added to any artist profile to direct fans to support that musician directly. That is not the same as a tip jar, which would allow people to contribute via Spotify. The new tool will redirect listeners to a third-party site of the artist’s choosing to support that musician during this difficult time.
If you’re a Spotify for Artists user interested in this feature, please sign up here, and the company will email you when it’s ready.
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