Brief summary of key findings
- 65% of respondents report a significant negative impact on revenue after the introduction of the 1,000 stream threshold. Labels with large catalogs (100+ songs, some over 10,000) are most affected.
- 85% express dissatisfaction with the policy, and 92% of larger catalogs define it as “unfair” and “unfavorable for smaller and independent artists”.
- Niche genres (folklore, turbo-folk, world, jazz), which traditionally have a more specific but loyal audience, are most affected.
- Many respondents emphasize the risk that this policy could set a dangerous precedent – in the future, platforms could stop paying for recordings with less than 10,000 streams, which would wipe out entire catalogs of independent artists.
“The 1,000 stream policy doesn’t just reduce revenue today—it sets a dangerous precedent for future thresholds that could wipe entire local catalogs out of the digital economy.” – independent label representative
What do the participants propose as solutions?
1. Lower or remove the threshold
Around 40% of respondents insist that the threshold should be significantly lowered (e.g. to 100 streams) or completely removed to ensure that every use of protected content is paid for. Impact analysis (3)
2. Better algorithmic and playlist support for smaller artists
Around 35% emphasize that Spotify has the opportunity to support diversity through curated and niche playlists focused on local scenes and genres.
3. Local curators for underserved markets (incl. the Balkans)
25% emphasize the lack of local curators in regions such as Southeastern Europe, which limits the visibility of local catalogs and their ability to reach relevant audiences.