Iranian-Dutch artist, Sevdaliza, has recently made a candid revelation that rekindled the debate over the economics of the music streaming industry. Despite having over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and being known for her experimental sound and collaborations with artists like Grimes, the electronic-pop sensation shared her struggle to make ends meet. She expressed her frustration with the meager returns from streaming platforms on X/Twitter.

“I have been an independent artist for 12 years releasing music, I’ve built everything including a fanbase without majors, and I still can’t afford to take a week off,” Sevdaliza tweeted. She further revealed that, on average, one million streams translate to a paltry $2,500 payout for artists, a figure that shrinks even further after deducting taxes, management fees, and production costs. “How are we expected to ever make music sustainable?” the artist questioned, echoing the sentiments of many independent musicians grappling with the harsh realities of the streaming economy.

Sevdaliza’s candid remarks came in response to a viral tweet by acclaimed artist James Blake, who highlighted the diminishing avenues for artists to generate sustainable income. “If we want quality music, somebody is gonna have to pay for it,” Blake emphasized, citing the inadequate payouts from streaming services, the exploitative practices of record labels, and the rising costs of touring as barriers to financial stability for musicians.

The advent of streaming has undoubtedly reshaped the music industry, with platforms like Spotify reporting record growth and adding millions of premium subscribers annually. However, the royalty payments from these services pale in comparison to the revenues generated by physical album sales in the pre-streaming era. Artist Zoë Keating revealed in 2020 that a single stream on Apple Music earned her a mere $0.012, while on Spotify, after distributor fees, she received a paltry $0.003 per stream.

The harsh realities faced by independent artists like Sevdaliza and the struggles to sustain their craft have reignited calls for reform within the music industry. Nadine Shah, another artist, expressed her frustration to The New York Times, stating, “If we got paid a meaningful income from streaming, that could be a weekly grocery shop; it could contribute to your rent or your mortgage when you need it the most. That’s why I felt compelled to talk about it. I saw so many artists struggling.”

Lauren Jauregui, formerly of the group Fifth Harmony, echoed these sentiments, lamenting that among her artist friends, “everyone feels like we have no right to get paid for our work.” She criticized the industry’s conflation of popularity and follower count with success, asserting that “conflate popularity or follower count with ‘success’ they can’t conceptualize how extractive and abusive these systems are to us.”

In response to the outcry, Sevdaliza has floated the idea of “starting a music artist union, that solely advocates for the rights of musicians.” The artist’s poignant admission that she has to “sacrifice her health and can’t be a present mother, because of our business model” underscores the urgency of addressing the systemic issues plaguing the music industry.

As the streaming era progresses, the struggles faced by independent artists, such as Sevdaliza, highlight the importance of fair compensation and sustainable practices within the music industry. With the help of fellow artists and advocates, their voices may play a critical role in initiating long-overdue reforms that ensure their art is valued and their livelihoods are safeguarded.