There are plenty of reasons for us to argue in support of streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora as music fans not in a band. If not the high payouts, then at least you're getting better promotion and at least you're being paid a small amount, which is better than nothing. Then again, a performer like Aloe Blacc can quickly demonstrate that streaming leaves some music professionals in the cold. Namely, songwriters.
You know Blacc best as a performer for his own hit "The Man," but he's also at least partially responsible for the biggest song in streaming history. He wrote (and sang for) the tune that Avicii based "Wake Me Up!" on. That track caught on among both pop and EDM listeners, totaling more than 168 million streams across all of the platforms. From that he got checks totaling about $4,000.
Blacc broke down the payouts for the track: It generated $12,359 total. That sum was then split between three songwriters (himself, Avicii...and both Aileen Quinn and Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger are also listed as songwriters. Which Blacc was referring to is unclear) and their respective publishers.
He notes that Avicii doesn't suffer from the payment rates despite receiving the same amount. The DJ can tour based on the success of the single, even using analysis tools from streaming services to see where his work is the most popular. Blacc can tour on his own songs (although his version of the song is much less popular, albeit still great) but he can't expect crowds on par with Avicii's. Songwriters who only write don't make anything from the touring success of a performer.
The best you can do right now as a fan is show support for your favorite acts by investing in the physical copy or downloading an album.
