Spotify is stingy when it comes to royalties for songwriters – the party atmosphere is limited.
The Grammys are considered the music industry’s ultimate showcase – an evening where artists are celebrated and creatives’ greatest achievements are recognized. But in 2025, a protest will overshadow the celebrations: numerous prominent songwriters have announced that they will boycott the official Grammy party on the streaming service Spotify.
The musicians want to make a statement against what many artists perceive as the systematic undervaluation of their work. Spotify has been criticized for years: The streaming business model may be revolutionary and practical for consumers, but the question of why artists are not fairly compensated for their work still remains. Songwriters whose names are rarely in the spotlight are particularly affected by the low payouts.
Songwriters deserve more respect
The protesters make no secret of what they are about. One of the leaders behind the campaign made it clear that songwriters were no longer willing to promote the industry’s image while their creative contributions were often paid just a few cents per 1,000 streams. Instead, they demand that platforms like Spotify pass on a fairer share of revenue to creators.
Four of the five nominees for Songwriter of the Year – Jessi Alexander, Amy Allen, Jessie Jo Dillon and RAYE – will not be attending the Spotify event. Dillon and Allen confirmed to Billboard that they made this decision due to Spotify’s change in subscription tiers last year. Audio books were bundled with premium offers. As a result, payouts to songwriters are expected to decline by $150 million in the first twelve months.
Dillon, who is nominated for songwriter of the year for the second year in a row alongside Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, Megan Moroney and more, told Billboard: “After careful consideration, I did not approve of this initiative given its approach to pooling royalties support with conscience. It’s very nice to be honored individually, but it’s better for me and my entire songwriting community to be paid fairly for our art. Without songwriters there would be no songs.”
Spotify is paying less and less: a turning point for the industry?
The songwriters’ protest is a wake-up call that could extend far beyond the Grammy celebrations. While platforms like Spotify focus on growth and market share, more and more artists are asking the question: Is the model that has made streaming so successful also sustainable for music creators?
The Grammy organization itself has not yet commented clearly on the controversy. But one thing is clear: As long as prominent players like songwriters use their platform to demand change, the pressure on streaming giants like Spotify will continue to grow.