STOP SALEING MUSIC ON LINE LETS GO BACK TO SALING CD'S/New Artist Interview

When YouTube approached the popular cellist Zoë Keatingwith their new music streaming service earlier this year, they delivered an ultimatum: sign the contract, or your artist channel will be blocked.

The move sparked a wave of outrage among musicians when Zoë wrote about her experience. Independent labels had already negotiated with YouTube’s Music Key service for months, but hadn’t reached a workable agreement. YouTube’s terms are certainly harsher than those of other streaming services, but the truth is that streaming services on the whole are a bad bet for successful independent artists — if you want to earn a living selling your music.

Still, streaming services grow in double-digits year after year. We’re reaching a point in which most music listeners will be using at least one of them. The situation hands artists a dilemma: do you accept the low rates paid by streaming services in exchange for exposure? Or do you eschew the services and risk losing part of your audience?

Your answer to this question depends on how you make a living as an artist right now. If most of your income is from music sales, like Zoë Keating, then putting your music on a streaming service is probably a bad idea. On the other hand, if most of your income comes from other sources, like live performance, then streaming may still be worth it for the access to listeners.

Streaming Sites Aren’t On Your Side (Even If They Want to Be)