Songwriters to Protest Spotify Royalty Rates With Los Angeles Demonstration: ‘Enough Is Enough’

Citing “years of paltry royalty rates,” a group of songwriters have announced plans for a protest against Spotify to be held in Los Angeles this week.

In a statement released to news outlets, the 100 Percenters—a group of songwriters founded by Grammy-winning artist Tiffany Red—announced details for the Feb. 28 demonstration. 

“Spotify was built on the backs of the music creators, yet we have the smallest piece of the pie,” Red said. “Songwriters and producers deserve to make a living wage, but instead, the DSPs and record labels are making billions while we make peanuts. Enough is enough; our voices will be heard.”

The group said in a press release that a “perfect storm” has formed thanks to the recent confluence of royalty rates and Joe Rogan-focused controversies, as well as the exit from the platform by Neil Young and India Arie, among others. Red’s group points to the Music Modernization Act of 2018, which calls for a pay increase to songwriters. Spotify, the group notes, is “fighting against” this increase at an upcoming trial.

The Los Angeles-set demonstration is set to begin at 12 p.m. local time on Feb. 28, with the final location still to be determined. Participants can expect “food and drinks” to be provided. For more info on the protest, as well as a fundraiser that was still in progress at the time of this writing, see below.