Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor slams streaming: "we STILL don't get paid"
Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor called out streaming services for the way they pay artists and got real about the business side of making money as a musician.
At the beginning of the year, the Copyright Royalty Board ruled that royalties received by songwriters would increase by 44 percent during the next five years.
Read more: Bernie Sanders gets own Ben & Jerry’s flavor that sends political message
Spotify, Good, Pandora and Amazon later appealed the ruling, citing that it harmed copyright owners.
With that in mind, Nils Lofgren of Bruce Spingsteen’s E Street Band took to Twitter to complain about the wealth of Spotify while artists “don’t get paid for (their) work”. He shared a streaming check he received for $7.01.
Taylor quote tweeted it, and added his opinion about the matter and talked about the major case.
“No one points this out. And while Congress has passed legislation to right this wrong, almost all the streaming services are APPEALING, which means we STILL don’t get paid for our work. But please people, by all means- stream away,” he said.
No one points this out. And while Congress has passed legislation to right this wrong, almost all the streaming services are APPEALING, which means we STILL don’t get paid for our work. But please people, by all means- stream away… ? https://t.co/QsaVVdrvUI
— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
Then, a fan asked how artists do make money, and Taylor explained and said “streaming is pricing artists – old AND new – our of careers”.
We HAVE to tour. It’s the only way we can make a living. Merch helps, but the merch companies make the lion’s share. Streaming is pricing artists- old AND new- out of careers. https://t.co/XMk3llFJGX
— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
Then, someone asked if he streamed music. Taylor said he buys albums and thanked Apple Music for being the only major streaming service not trying to appeal the legislation.
I buy albums, physically and on iTunes. I WILL say this: Apple Music is the ONLY streaming service that is NOT appealing the legislation. Thank you @AppleMusic
— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
Someone then tried to defend streaming, and Taylor explained his problem is with the companies behind the services, not the just services themselves.
It’s not the streaming itself, kid. I don’y care HOW people get the music. I care how the COMPANIES who provide it compensate the fuckin’ people who made it in the first place. https://t.co/W5PdDRyi7G
— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
The same person tried to bring in artists paying attention to their contracts, but Taylor said that wasn’t a relevant point.
“All due respect, this isn’t about contracts right now because they don’t reflect the service righteously. And even if the streaming service pays the label, WE still don’t get paid. This is about PUBLISHING. They’re offering OUR work and not paying for it,” he wrote.
All due respect, this isn’t about contracts right now because they don’t reflect the service righteously. And even if the streaming service pays the label, WE still don’t get paid. This is about PUBLISHING. They’re offering OUR work and not paying for it.
— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
That person then asked him why streaming wasn’t regulated, and Taylor explained a bit.
“Because as long as the RECORD LABELS get THEIR money, they don’t CARE if the ARTIST gets paid at ALL. Or who plays their music- unless it’s a critic on @youtube THEN THEY’RE UP IN ARMS,” he said.
Because as long as the RECORD LABELS get THEIR money, they don’t CARE if the ARTIST gets paid at ALL. Or who plays their music- unless it’s a critic on @youtube THEN THEY’RE UP IN ARMS ?
— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
Another person tried to say that it makes sense that Slipknot doesn’t make money through streaming since rock is ‘one of the least popular (nowadays) genres”.
“All due respect, I simply do not believe the ‘rock and metal isn’t popular’ idea. Our shows are sold out, our numbers are just as high as anyone else’s and we’ve been #1 every time. This isn’t about popularity, because it happens in EVERY GENRE,” he said in response.
All due respect, I simply do not believe the ‘rock and metal isn’t popular’ idea. Our shows are sold out, our numbers are just as high as anyone else’s and we’ve been #1 every time. This isn’t about popularity, because it happens in EVERY GENRE.
— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
Taylor went on to explain to fans the benefit of buying music over streaming for artists.
“Any service where you can buy the album, or songs at a time. Even buying a song singly makes us more than simply streaming it. The irony here is, if the streaming services adhered to the payment scale that Radio has to abide by, we’d all be paid fairly,” he said.
Any service where you can buy the album, or songs at a time. Even buying a song singly makes us more than simply streaming it.
The irony here is, if the streaming services adhered to the payment scale that Radio has to abide by, we’d all be paid fairly.— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
Then, someone asked why he didn’t pull his music from the services, and he gave a blunt and truthful response.
“Because if you don’t own your masters, you can do fuck all to stop what the labels do,” he said.
Because if you don’t own your masters, you can do fuck all to stop what the labels do.
— Panickin’ Skywalker (@CoreyTaylorRock) August 3, 2019
Taylor made a lot of points about streaming, so it will be interesting to see how the case plays out.
More Slipknot news
Slipknot, a band normally known for rocking masks and regalia of the sort that monsters underneath your bed wear, slightly changed their wardrobes in order to stay cool during their summer tour.
The heavy metal icons are best known for grandiose live shows, similar to Rammstein or GWAR, but made a slight tweak in response to the warm weather.
Debuting at the Pain in the Grass Festival in Washington earlier this week, the boys sported something a little bit different for their Knotfest Roadshow tour.
White jumpsuits and masks greet the fans there to see their usually black-clad icons. We can’t blame them though.
View this post on Instagram
Maybe they’re going for a creepy hospital vibe. Either way, the summer heat takes its toll on all of us. Especially those with shows that have huge pyrotechnics taking place in amphitheaters. Slipknot are currently on tour, so go see them now in their church whites before they dress like your worst nightmares once again.
What do you think of Corey Taylor speaking about the business side of streaming? Sound off in the comments down below!
See more: 10 concert posters from your favorite bands before they blew up
[envira-gallery id=”199143″]