The Broken Record campaign, launched in the UK, aims to address the financial struggles faced by musicians due to the streaming model. The campaign calls for changes to the way streaming services compensate artists, arguing that the current pro-rata model, where artists are paid based on the total number of streams, is unfair. This model often rewards the biggest artists with the highest number of streams, leaving smaller, independent musicians with a fraction of the revenue.
The Broken Record campaign advocates for a more transparent and fairer approach to payments. One of the key recommendations is the introduction of a user-centric payment system, where each listener’s subscription fee is directly allocated to the artists they listen to. This would ensure that musicians who have a dedicated fanbase are compensated more fairly, rather than relying on the massive number of total streams to generate income.
The campaign has gained support from prominent musicians, including Tom Gray of Gomez and other industry insiders who argue that the current system is unsustainable and leaves many artists struggling to make a living. Gray has been vocal about the need for reform, stating that streaming has created a “race to the bottom,” where the value of music is diminished, and artists are left with little to show for their hard work.
While the campaign has not yet resulted in sweeping changes, it has sparked a larger conversation about the need for fairer compensation models in the streaming industry. If successful, the Broken Record initiative could help ensure that musicians are more fairly compensated for the music they create and help create a more sustainable future for the music industry.
