Mike Portnoy recently commented on Spotify’s artist compensation practices. He addressed the issue in a statement shared on Instagram.
The statement focused on the disparity between user engagement with Spotify’s annual wrap-up feature and the minimal payments artists receive from the platform.
“Hope everyone is enjoying their ‘Shitify’ wrap-ups,” Portnoy said. “Meanwhile: ‘US Government: Pennies are going away. Spotify: How will we pay artists?’ F-Spotify!”
Portnoy’s criticism highlights the ongoing tension between streaming platforms’ popularity among listeners and the financial challenges faced by musicians. These artists rely on these services for income. The comment reflects broader industry concerns about fair artist compensation in the streaming era.
Mike Portnoy is not the only musician who criticized Spotify’s policies. Charlie Benante, drummer for Anthrax and touring drummer for Pantera, has previously called Spotify “where music goes to die.2 In a late-2024 interview, he said that streaming has gutted the music industry, arguing that platforms like Spotify essentially steal from artists, leaving them underpaid despite their work.
In an interview with Sonic Perspectives, Cradle of Filth frontman Dani Filth also said he can’t in good conscience maintain a Spotify account because “they don’t pay people.” He added: “I want my bands to be paid because if they’re not paid, they’re not bands anymore,” calling streaming-platform economics “daylight robbery.”
Mike Portnoy’s stance against Spotify seems not surprising, considering many artists from the rock and metal community have been warning their fans about the danger of these kinds of platforms harming artists.
