Damien Jurado pulls music off Spotify despite 780K monthly listeners

Damien Jurado and his independent label Maraqopa Records have pulled his music off Spotify because it “refuses to pay a fair and decent living wage.” It’s a decision that’s not without consequence, given Jurado’s 780,000 monthly listeners there.

“I simply cannot continue to support or align myself with a corporation who continues to profit off of the musicians it refuses to pay a fair and decent living wage,” he wrote on Facebook.

His music will remain on Apple Music and TIDAL, and while Jurado did not specifically sight his reasoning, both historically pay artists a higher per-stream royalty rate than Spotify.

“Understand that I am in no way, shape or form anti-streaming. I accept reality.” wrote the singer-songwriter. “I however do not accept unacceptable business practices, and unfair treatment of artists.”