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Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has revealed that he has removed Atoms for Peace's music from Spotify as he and producer Nigel Godrich have turn to boycott the music streaming service.
Spotify listeners will no longer be able to stream Thom Yorke's solo album The Eraser, Amokby Atoms for Peace or Ultraísta's self titled debut. The descision seems to come from a unified distaste at the way Spotify makes it difficult for new bands and musicians.
"New artists get paid fuck all with this model," said Godrich. "If we don't try and make it fair for new music producers and artists then the art will suffer."
Godrich talks about the fact that the cost of making music compared to the money Spotify pay means that smaller artists and labels 'can't even keep the lights on'.
He added: "These are all the same old industry bods trying to get a stranglehold on the delivery system."
Yorke then posted on Twitter: “New artists you discover on Spotify will not get paid. Meanwhile shareholders will shortly begin rolling in it."
Thom Yorke performing with Atoms for Peace
According to the Spotify website, the streaming company generates it's money through brand advertising and 'nearly 70%' of the profits go to the rights holders. Allegedy they pay 2% of their gross royalties for an artist whose music represents 2% of what the Spotify users stream. Godrich thinks there is severe pressure for new artists to be part of the streaming service, in order to not 'lose out' ' adding 'Millions of streams gets them a few thousand dollars'.
The band Grizzly Bear reportedly was paid $10 for 10,000 streams and Erin McKeown claimed that she received less than half a cent from a stream.
Godrich is not opposed to Spotify completely, mentioning 'streaming suits catalogue'. He added that he feels that for older artists such as Pink Floyd streaming makes sense, as the music has already made lots of money. He continued: "If people had been listening to Spotify instead of buying records in 1973…I doubt very much if dark side would have been made."
Radiohead's music is still available to stream through Spotify.
Below - Photos: Radiohead live in Manchester
