During a recent interview on “The Jeremy White Show,” Dee Snider, the lead singer of TWISTED SISTER, expressed strong criticism once more towards Spotify, citing the inadequate compensation the music streaming service provides to music rightsholders. He said: “That guy from Spotify,” apparently referring to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, “I wanna tell you, he should be taken out and shot. When he heard that artists were complaining about how little we get paid, his response was ‘make more music’ — like we’re producing cans of Coke. Just [increase] the production. [It’s] insulting and belittling.”
Regarding how artists like him can still generate revenue with their music, Dee said: “For me, it’s licensing. The licensing is the last godsend, the last oasis where you can actually make some money. Steven Spielberg chooses [TWISTED SISTER’s] ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ for the finale of [his movie] ‘Ready Player One’. Thank you, God, ’cause I’m not getting anything from Spotify”.
Over an extended period, Spotify has faced criticism for providing meager payments to musicians and songwriters. Some argue that the platform grants major-label artists an unjust advantage through playlist placement and other promotional channels.
