Why Artists in India Hate Streaming Services, And Who’s Really to Blame?
From disappointing payouts to cultural habits around “free” music, the tension between artists and platforms like Spotify is growing.
But this isn’t just a battle between creators and corporations — it’s a reflection of deeper issues within India’s music economy, audience habits, and industry education.
Streaming was supposed to democratize music — a space where anyone could upload a track, reach an audience beyond their city, and build a sustainable career. In theory, it sounded perfect. No gatekeepers, no major label bottlenecks, no waiting for someone to greenlight your vision. Just you, your sound, and the internet.
But in India, that promise has fallen flat. Despite millions of listeners and streams, most independent artists struggle to earn anything meaningful. The streaming economy, once hailed as the great equalizer, now feels more like a trick mirror — one that reflects reach, but rarely revenue. A track with a million plays might earn you less than a month’s rent.
It’s no surprise, then, that mistrust has started to grow. Artists blame platforms. Platforms point to the market. Fans repost music but rarely pay for it. And somewhere in this web of finger-pointing, the real issue gets lost: the value of music itself — and who’s willing to uphold it.
A Million Plays # A Month’s Rent
Let’s start with the payouts. In India, a million streams on Spotify might get you ₹10,000–₹20,000.
That’s shockingly low compared to countries like the U.S., where the same number might fetch four to five times more. The reasons are structural: India’s premium subscription costs are among the cheapest in the world, and most users rely on free, ad-supported models.
Combine that with the fact that ad rates (CPMs) in India are also significantly lower, and the revenue pool starts to look painfully small.
Platforms will tell you they’re doing their best. That they pay out what they collect. That the economics of the Indian market just don’t allow for more. And they’re not wrong — but they’re not entirely right either.
Because while they might not be intentionally shortchanging artists, they’ve done little to educate them, to build region-specific solutions, or to create systems that support long-term artistic growth beyond just “going viral.”
The Cultural Contradiction Runs Deep
On the other side of the coin lies a quieter contradiction — the artists themselves.
Many of them don’t pay for streaming services either. They’ll expect fans to stream their songs on Spotify, but personally consume music on YouTube, pirated Telegram channels, or leaked MP3s.
It’s a cultural paradox: we want to be paid for our art, but we don’t always believe in paying for others’.
And the audience? They’re not villains either.
Most listeners want to support their favorite artists. But they’ve been conditioned to believe that streaming is support, that flame emojis are love, and that sharing a song is enough.
What they don’t realize is that none of those things pay the bills. Real support means buying a ticket, grabbing the merch, subscribing to a platform, or donating directly when the opportunity arises.
So who’s to blame? That’s the wrong question. The better one is: who’s responsible? The answer, unfortunately, is everyone.
Streaming platforms created systems that prioritize scale over sustainability. Artists often lack knowledge about backend rights, metadata, and monetization — and even when they do, the infrastructure to act on that knowledge is missing. And audiences, despite their love, haven’t been taught how to materially support the music they enjoy.
What we need isn’t just better payouts. We need a cultural reset.
Platforms must invest in transparency, in artist tools built for India, and in real, local artist relationships. Artists must lead with example — paying for music, owning their masters, and initiating honest conversations about money and value.
Fans must see themselves as part of the ecosystem, not just passive consumers. And collectives like ours must continue to document, question, and push for change — not with outrage, but with clarity.
This Isn’t Just About Spotify
It’s about the future of Indian music.
And until we start treating music not just as entertainment, but as a craft worth protecting, we’ll keep spinning our wheels.
At Desi Renaissance, we don’t believe in easy answers. But we do believe in asking better questions. And this — the streaming debate — is one we can’t afford to ignore any longer.
If you’re an artist, label, or platform rep with thoughts on India’s streaming future — we’d love to hear from you. Reach out at info@desirenaissance.com.
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