Should Artists Stop Uploading to Spotify and Go Back to CDs?

In this episode of the Music Business Newslettee with Matthew Rix, I respond to an email from an artist who says I don’t really help artists the way I claim to.

He believes that if I truly cared about independent musicians, I’d encourage them to stop putting their music on streaming services and instead focus on selling CDs, vinyl, and Bandcamp downloads, where artists actually make money.

It’s a fair challenge and one worth having.

In this video, I talk about:
The truth about streaming payouts and exposure
How to balance discovery platforms with real revenue streams

What “helping artists” actually means in 2025
If you’ve ever wondered whether streaming is helping or hurting independent musicians, this episode offers a real world perspective without industry fluff.

Got a question or opinion you want to share?
Head over to MatthewRix.com and send it in.

Whether you agree or disagree, your email might be featured in a future Music Business Newsletter.

#MusicIndustry #Streaming #IndependentArtist #Bandcamp #Spotify #ArtistAdvice #MusicBusiness #MatthewRix #MattrixMinute #MusicDistribution #StreamingRoyalties #CDSales #MusicCareer


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