Several artists resembling Kanye West, Tyler, the Creator, Metro Boomin and extra have come collectively to echo James Blake‘s latest statements about the music trade.

Blake took to social media to share his frustrations about the pay inequality between artists, file labels and streaming providers, noting that it’s getting a lot more durable for artists to make a residing from their music. “If we want quality music somebody is gonna have to pay for it. Streaming services don’t pay properly, labels want a bigger cut than ever and just sit and wait for you to go viral, TikTok doesn’t pay properly, and touring is getting prohibitively expensive for most artists,” he tweeted. “The brainwashing worked and now people think music is free.”

He added, “Something I keep seeing is ‘if you’re lucky enough to go viral, just use the exposure to generate income some other way’. Musicians should be able to generate income via their music. Do you want good music or do you want what you paid for?”

Blake adopted it up with one other remark on Instagram, including his ideas on plenty of posts initially made by Off Record Sounds. He defined that plenty of components, together with the totally different slowed down/sped up variations of songs, the quick consideration span of audiences and musicians and the reputation of TikTok/Instagram Reels, allow this tradition in music whereby followers solely know elements of the similar track due to its viral attraction. He continued, “I really love music. I will continue to use my social media but only to connect with you guys. Music is my life’s purpose and I will not have mine destroyed by a bunch of labels and tech companies who don’t even pay us and exploit us relentlessly.”

“Remember when my cover of ‘Godspeed’ went viral?” he requested. “Neither me nor Frank ever made a cent cause it was an ‘original sound’ in every video.”

Ye and Tyler each reposted Blake’s ideas on Instagram in settlement, whereas the likes of Metro Boomin, BADBADNOTGOOD, Dev Hynes/Blood Orange, Erick the Architect, Shenseea, Vic Mensa, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic and Bas all concurred in the feedback part. “They suggested for me to release the acapella, sped up, and slowed down versions of Creepin and I was like nooooo way lol,” Young Metro commented.

If we wish high quality music any person is gonna must pay for it. Streaming providers don’t pay correctly, labels desire a larger reduce than ever and simply sit and wait so that you can go viral, TikTok doesn’t pay correctly, and touring is getting prohibitively costly for many artists.

— James Blake (@jamesblake) March 3, 2024

Something I preserve seeing is ‘if you’re fortunate sufficient to go viral, simply use the publicity to generate earnings another approach’. Musicians ought to be capable to generate earnings through their music.

Do you need good music or would you like what you paid for?

— James Blake (@jamesblake) March 3, 2024

The brainwashing labored and now individuals assume music is free.

— James Blake (@jamesblake) March 3, 2024