[opcvx]

Taylor Swift can withhold her music from streaming services because she's a PHENOMENON who can still shift albums via iTunes (and even physically) because people want her music. Artists starting out don't have that luxury and, increasingly, their music won't get the listens if it's not on streaming services.

Did you read the post where she explains what is her goal for doing this? Here is the relevant part:

This is not about me. Thankfully I am on my fifth album and can support myself, my band, crew, and entire management team by playing live shows. This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success. This is about the young songwriter who just got his or her first cut and thought that the royalties from that would get them out of debt. This is about the producer who works tirelessly to innovate and create, just like the innovators and creators at Apple are pioneering in their field…but will not get paid for a quarter of a year’s worth of plays on his or her songs.

[sbarre]

Do you really believe that? Or is that maybe carefully crafted language to fend off the parent's valid argument?

Plenty of creators currently put their music on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Youtube and more, and get exposure that way without getting paid.

The choice is really up to the artist. I do agree that Apple has the ability to pay artists during the 3-month trial, but should they have to? I don't know..

btw not saying I have the answer here, but as parent said, the current landscape doesn't really line up with her argument much.

[vacri]

> I do agree that Apple has the ability to pay artists during the 3-month trial, but should they have to?

Unless the artist (or representative) have given them permission to use their content for free, they should absolutely have to. It's the same IP laws that Apple like to use in their own defence: you can't just use someone else's stuff without their permission and without remuneration. What do you think Apple would do to me if I started selling an OS that used Apple's graphics set?

Just because some artists put their music on free media doesn't mean that a corporation can use that music as a loss-leader to sell their service.

[icebraining]

But is Apple planning to use the content without permission? It doesn't seem to be the case, since they're contacting artists asking them to join Apple Music. There was a guy claiming they threatened kicking him off iTunes, but they've denied it.

[jsz0]

> This is about the new artist or band that has just released their first single and will not be paid for its success.

That's how the music business has always worked. With a few exceptions labels take a loss on the startup costs of establishing new artists.