Music

Portishead made only $3,000 after their songs were streamed 34 million times

by Mark Teo

For electronic music fans, Portishead are indisputably one of the most important bands of the modern era. Their 1994 debut, Dummy, established the British act as a trip-hop force, and they’ve been reaping accolades by the fistful ever since. So, you’d think that as living legends, they’d be reaping the monetary benefits of their music, right? Not so fast.

In a tweet, Geoff Barrow revealed that he—like other hitmakers such as Pharrell—earned nearly nothing from streaming-music services, despite being massively streamed. (Cue a zillion pieces debating the relevance of Tidal.) In Portishead’s case, Barrow tweeted that the band made a measly $3,000 CAD for a staggering 34 million streams.

Here’s what he wrote in a series of tweets. In his first tweet, he squarely calls out Universal Music Group—interesting, he chooses to blame labels instead of streaming service, instead arguing that streaming services serve a purpose. (Albeit one that doesn’t serve the interests of musicians.)

He even retweeted a few people who took exception to his complaints.

Still, we’re with Barrow, here. Although he certainly has other income beyond streaming—he’s a successful musician, after all—few would argue that $3,000 in compensation for millions of streams isn’t adequate. Streaming services, as it stands, benefit listeners (and depending on who you ask, labels), but they certainly don’t benefit artists. And no, “exposure” isn’t a tangible benefit.

Barrow’s revelations are saddening, but they’re hardly a surprise—here’s a more detailed look at how hard it is for musicians to make minimum wage online.