Making Music for a Living Should Not Mean Poverty
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Friends, Music fuels our culture, our movements, and our collective memory. Yet in today’s streaming economy, the musicians who create that value are being systematically underpaid while corporations and executives reap enormous profits. Congress must act now by passing the Living Wage for Musicians Act to restore fairness, dignity, and sustainability to the music industry.
Streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube generate billions of dollars annually, creating immense wealth for CEOs and major record labels. But for the artists themselves, the payout is often just a fraction of a penny per stream. At Spotify’s current rates, a song must be streamed nearly 300 times for an artist to earn a single dollar. There is no minimum wage for streaming, little regulation, and no meaningful protection for musicians trying to survive off their work. This system is not only unsustainable—it is exploitative.
Detroit artist and WDET radio host Shigeto underscored the urgency of reform, saying, “Artists have been taken advantage of since the inception of digital streaming. The Living Wage for Musicians Act gives voice to independent musicians and could potentially change a lot of artists’ lives by giving them a sustainable revenue stream” (Tlaib, 2025).
The Living Wage for Musicians Act would establish a minimum royalty of one penny per stream, paid directly to artists. That direct payment is critical. It prevents major labels and intermediaries from siphoning off earnings and ensures the people who actually made the music are paid. The Act also protects human creativity by limiting payouts to real artists, helping prevent Big Tech AI from further taking over the streaming market.
UMAW organizer and musician Damon Krukowski explained why this approach matters: “There is a lot of talk in the industry about how to ‘fix’ streaming—but the streaming platforms and major labels have already had their say for more than a decade, and they have failed musicians. The Living Wage for Musicians Act presents a new, artist-centered solution to make streaming work for the many and not just the few” (Tlaib, 2025).
Adding insult to injury, streaming companies continue to run ICE ads and invest in military technologies while claiming they cannot afford to pay musicians fairly. Congress must draw a moral line.
Tell Congress to pass the Living Wage for Musicians Act. Spotify and other music streaming services must pay artists fairly.
Click here to Tell Congress to pass the Living Wage for Musicians Act! Spotify and other music streaming services must pay artists fairly.
You’re invited: Eyes on ICE: Document and Record
Details: 📅 Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026 📍 Location: Zoom. RSVP today and bring your voice to the movement!
On January 24, 2026, federal immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, igniting nationwide outrage and deepening fear in communities already targeted by aggressive enforcement tactics. Pretti, who cared for veterans and peacefully stood up to oppressive federal action, was killed in broad daylight — the latest in a string of violent encounters that include the earlier killing of Renée Good.
Enough is enough. Exercising our Constitutional rights to document, record, and witness the actions of ICE, CBP, and other federal agents is no longer optional — it’s necessary. Every phone camera pointed at abuses, every legal observer trained, every neighbor supported keeps power in check and protects our communities from terror and unchecked force.
Join an important training via Zoom on Thursday, February 5th, 2026 at 8:00 pm ET for Eyes on Ice: Document and Record, a training call that will equip you with the tools to confidently and safely assert your rights when documenting law enforcement — and take action beyond it. We’ll walk through what you need to know, how to protect yourself and others, and concrete ways to stay engaged in the fight for justice.
👉 RSVP for Link. Because courage isn’t passive — it’s prepared.
You’re invited: No Kings Day of Action
Details: 📅 Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026 📍 Location: National
The next NO KINGS national mobilization is here. Power belongs to the people. Join us. A Complete Guide to the No Kings Day of Action can be found here or scan the QR Code.
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Click here to Tell the FBI: Stop Blocking Investigation Into ICE Shootings
Click here to Tell Congress: Investigate ICE Retaliation Against Protests
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