Just when we thought the Doggfather had officially exited the Spotify stage, the plot twist of the year just dropped! Snoop Dogg, the legendary rapper who hasn't been shy about voicing his, shall we say, displeasure with Spotify's payment model, has apparently had a change of heart. In a surprising turn of events, Snoop and Spotify have made peace, and to celebrate, the Doggfather just dropped a brand-new album, "Iz It a Crime?," exclusively on the platform! Talk about a mic drop moment!
Remember last year when Snoop, never one to mince words, publicly criticized Spotify at Bloomberg's Screentime conference and the Milken Institute's annual gathering? He even claimed he'd pocketed less than $45,000 for music streamed over a billion times, leading him to pull some of his tracks from the service. It seemed like a pretty firm "goodbye." Spotify, for their part, contested his figures, suggesting the royalties would have been significantly higher.
Fast forward to now, and it seems cooler heads have prevailed. Spotify reportedly engaged in discussions with Snoop over the past few weeks, laying out the intricacies of their business model. The result? A partnership to support Snoop's surprise album, "Iz It a Crime?," which landed on streaming services this past Thursday, much to the delight (and surprise!) of fans.
"They offered me understanding and clarity," Snoop, the man also known as Calvin Broadus Jr., stated. "We had a meeting of the minds." This newfound understanding is a significant win for Spotify, a company that has often found itself in the crosshairs of artist frustrations regarding streaming payouts. While streaming has undeniably revitalized the music industry, many artists feel the compensation doesn't quite match the massive listenership. The fact that Spotify's market cap dwarfs that of major record labels, while CEO Daniel Ek's net worth surpasses that of any musician, hasn't helped ease those tensions.
So, what sparked this reconciliation? Apparently, Snoop's business partner, Larry Jackson, played a key role in facilitating meetings between the rapper and Spotify executives. These discussions aimed to shed light on the often-complex world of music royalties, especially considering Snoop's frequent co-writing credits, which involve splitting royalties across various parties, including performers, writers, labels, and publishers.
Joe Hadley, Spotify’s global head of music partnerships and audience, expressed enthusiasm about this new chapter. "There was some misinformation out there so we reached out to his team to have an open conversation," Hadley said. "It was a great, productive dialogue, where he asked us some really sharp questions about how the money flows from Spotify. Going forward, the door's open."
Interestingly, Snoop clarified that his previous frustrations weren't solely directed at Spotify but at the streaming model in general. While he might still not be the biggest fan of the system, he no longer holds Spotify solely responsible. This shift in perspective likely paved the way for this unexpected reunion.
This reconciliation also comes at an interesting time in Snoop's career. Beyond being a legendary artist, he's now a label owner, having acquired the iconic West Coast rap label Death Row Records back in 2022, the very label where his groundbreaking career began. This new role likely gives him a broader understanding of the industry's financial intricacies.
