Century Media Pulls All Labels From Spotify To ‘Protect Artists’

Heavy metal and hardcore label group Century Media has pulled all its labels from Spotify, according to the company, "to protect the interests of their artists". Labels include Century Media and associated labels InsideOutMusic, Superballmusic, Ain't no Grave Records, Hollywood Waste and People Like You. "Spotify in its present shape and form isn't the way forward," the company said in a statement siting potential loss of income. "Physical sales are dropping drastically in all countries where Spotify is active."

"The income streams to the artists are affected massively and therefore that accelerates the downward spiral, which eventually will lead to artists not being able to record music the way it should be recorded," according to the music group. "Ultimately, in some cases, it will completely kill a lot of smaller bands that are already struggling to make ends meet.

But Century does acknowledge that Spotify "is a great tool to discover new music" and is "reintroducing their bands to Spotify by way of putting up samplers of the artists. This way, fans can still discover the great music released by the label."

How Fans Consume Music Matters

"This is about survival, nothing less and it is time that fans and consumers realize that for artists it is essential to sell music to keep their heads above water," according to Century. "There needs to be awareness…that how you will consume your music has direct consequences for the artists, who we are all trying to support."

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