Spotify Promotion Feature Could Hurt Musicians, Democrats Say

Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg
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Spotify Technology SA’s song-promotion feature may drive down musician wages, said House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler in a letter to Chief Executive Officer Daniel Ek.

The feature, called “Discovery Mode,” allows artists to promote specific songs on Spotify in exchange for a lower royalty rate. Nadler said musicians may feel obligated to sacrifice part of their earnings in exchange for more exposure on the streaming music platform.