Gary Numan Reveals What Spotify Is Worth To Him - Noise11.com
Gary Numan photo by Tim Cashmere, music news, noise11.com

Gary Numan photo by Tim Cashmere

Gary Numan Reveals What Spotify Is Worth To Him

by Music-News.com on January 21, 2021

in News

Gary Numan has claimed he only got paid £37 for a million streams of his song.

The 62-year-old musician has spoken out at his frustration at streaming services paying an abysmal amount to artists, despite their music being listened to extensively.

Numan said, “The solution’s simple. The streaming companies should pay more money. They’re getting it for nothing.

“I had a statement a while back and one of my songs had had over a million plays, million streams, and it was £37. I got £37 from a million streams.”

Numan insisted it’s impossible to live off streaming, as he recalled once spending half an hour printing a statement that totalled just £112.

He continued: “I printed out, I think it was about a year ago, a statement – my streaming statement came in and I didn’t look at it, I just put it to print, and I looked over about half an hour later, it was still printing.

“It was hundreds and hundreds of pages. And the end of it was, like, £112. It was barely worth the [paper] it was printed on, and it took nearly half an hour to print. You know, it’s so much stuff, so much streaming, and there’s absolutely nothing in it.”

It’s been claimed that artists on average receive 16 per cent of the money earned from streaming, while record labels take 41 per cent and the streaming platforms pocket 29 per cent.

The electronic music legend admitted it’s not worth the hassle for those bands and musicians who aren’t “at the top”.

He added: “If you’re really at the top, then you can earn pretty well from streaming. If you’re not, you might as well forget it, it isn’t even worth printing it out, printing out the statement.”

Gary’s comments came as major record labels, Universal, Sony Music and Warner Music Group, gave evidence at the UK’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee inquiry into whether streaming is fair to musicians on Tuesday (19.01.21).

Meanwhile, Gary is set to release his 19th solo album in May.

‘Intruder’ explores the potential of an apocalypse and how humans are intruding the earth.

He explained: “‘Intruder’ looks at climate change from the planet’s point of view. If Earth could speak, and feel things the way we do, what would it say? How would it feel? The songs, for the most part, attempt to be that voice, or at least try to express what I believe the earth must feel at the moment.

“The planet sees us as its children now grown into callous selfishness, with a total disregard for it’s well being. It feels betrayed, hurt and ravaged. Disillusioned and heartbroken it is now fighting back.

“Essentially, it considers human kind to be a virus attacking the planet. Climate change is the undeniable sign of the Earth saying enough is enough, and finally doing what it needs to do to get rid of us, and explaining why it feels it has to do it.”

music-news.com

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

NEW: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

The Cure The Head on the Door
The Cure’s The Head on the Door: 40 Years of Post-Punk Perfection

Released on August 26, 1985, The Head on the Door marked a pivotal moment in The Cure's evolution. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the album stands as a testament to the band's ability to blend post-punk sensibilities with accessible pop melodies, propelling them into the mainstream while retaining their distinctive edge.

August 30, 2025
The Korgis Coffee In New York
The Korgis Join Forces With Australian Guitarist Joe Matera For ‘Coffee In New York’ Album

English pop-rock survivors The Korgis are back in 2025 with a brand-new collaborative album, teaming up with Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist Joe Matera. The project, titled Coffee In New York, will be released on October 24, 2025, via Renaissance Records in the USA on both vinyl and CD.

August 28, 2025
Bon Jovi, Photo By Damien Loverso
Bon Jovi Call On Friends For Forever (Legendary Edition)

Bon Jovi will return this October with a brand-new collaboration record, Forever (Legendary Edition), set for release on October 24, 2025. The 14-track album finds Jon Bon Jovi and the band reimagining the spirit of their 2024 record Forever with the help of an all-star guest list. The project arrives after Jon Bon Jovi’s vocal cord surgery, a setback that forced him to step away from touring while still creatively hungry to share music.

August 28, 2025
Tom Araya of Slayer at Download Melbourne 2019 photo by Mary Boukouvalas
Slayer Announce One-Night-Only Headline Show at Hersheypark Stadium

Slayer will return to the stage this September for a rare headline show on the U.S. east coast, confirming a massive one-night-only concert at Hersheypark Stadium, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 2025.

August 27, 2025
Mike Joyce The Drums
Mike Joyce Turns the Tables in The Drums: A Candid Beat from The Smiths’ Backseat

Manchester’s unsung pulse, drummer Mike Joyce, finally steps out from behind The Smiths’ jangly guitar riffs with his much-anticipated memoir, The Drums, due for release in November 2025.

August 26, 2025
Ali Campbell
UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell Announce Perth Show For Big Love World Tour

UB40 featuring Ali Campbell have added a Perth date to their Big Love World Tour after strong demand across Australia, bringing one of reggae’s most distinctive voices back to the West Coast. The show will take place at Kings Park & Botanic Garden on Sunday, 18 January 2026.

August 25, 2025
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds photo by Ros O'Gorman
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Announce Wild God 2026 Tour of Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds will return home to Australia in January 2026 with the official announcement today of their Wild God Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand tour. The run of shows will be the band’s first in the region since 2022 and will bring their acclaimed Wild God album to life for local audiences.

August 25, 2025