Digital

Rdio launches artist programme

By | Published on Wednesday 3 October 2012

Rdio

Following rumours back in May, streaming music platform Rdio has announced the launch of a new programme that incentivises artists to promote the digital music service to their fans.

Via the Rdio Artist Program, acts are encouraged to share their own music and music recommendations via social media, encouraging said fans to listen to said music via the streaming platform. If any fans then sign up for a premium subscription, the artist will receive ten dollars. Good times. The programme will run in fourteen countries at launch, and Scissor Sisters, Snoop Lion, A-Trak, Chromeo and Brendan Benson are all already on board.

As noted when the rumours of such a programme were first flying back in May, the initiative is an interesting way for artists to profit directly from the growth of streaming music, given that the royalties most acts receive via their labels and publishers from musicplay on Rdio-type platforms are often currently nominal.

Announcing the scheme, Rdio founder Janus Friis told CMU: “There is no art without artists. As part of this industry, we know a business that doesn’t reward its most important contributors is a business that has to change. The innovation of the internet should not be a barrier to the success of music artists; it should allow them to be even more successful”.

Meanwhile the digital firm’s CEO Drew Larner added: “All sorts of talented and innovative artists have found an audience for their music online. But it’s incredibly hard to make a living doing it. The Artist Program offers artists a way to supplement their existing revenue streams by doing what they do naturally – connecting with fans. We’re aligning our focus on social music discovery with our fundamental belief that artists deserve to get paid for their work. We view it as a significant step forward for artists, fans and streaming music”.

There’s more info about the scheme at www.rdio.com/artistprogram



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