We're all aware of the upsides of streaming services like Spotify; the incredible wealth of music on offer, all available essentially for free.
Occasionally, we also hear the downside of it - at least from the artists' perspective - when they gripe about how little they earn from such streaming services. Radiohead, Taylor Swift and The Black Keys have all spoken out against Spotify and other similar services in the past.
Portishead's Geoff Barrow is the latest to join the anti-streaming club. He claims that although his band's music has been streamed a whopping 34 million times on Spotify, they have received a cheque for just £1700 in payment.
Barrow took to Twitter to reveal the news, which you can see below.
34,000,000 streams Income After tax = £1700 Thank U @apple @YouTube @Spotify especially @UMG_News for selling our music so cheaply.
— Geoff Barrow (@jetfury) April 13, 2015
That's a rough estimate of my income from the streams
— Geoff Barrow (@jetfury) April 13, 2015
Sorry seems like my tweet has hit a nerve! that's a rough estimate but it's not far off When is this madness going to stop?
— Geoff Barrow (@jetfury) April 13, 2015
I've got nothing against streaming a record But I've got a lot against people giving my work away for free
— Geoff Barrow (@jetfury) April 13, 2015
Some people didn't take too kindly to his complaint, however:
@jetfury @Apple @YouTube @Spotify @UMG_News Poor rock star isn't making as much money as he used to... Where'd you get those numbers anyway?
— Already Dead (@AlreadyDeadDude) April 13, 2015
@jetfury Tacky, dude. Do you know how many struggling and literally starving musicians read tweets like this and want to punch you?
— Already Dead (@AlreadyDeadDude) April 13, 2015
@jetfury some people don't have money to buy records, dude.
— Josh Sutherland (@Sutherland4Josh) April 15, 2015
