Over the past year, independent and smaller artists have found themselves disproportionately affected by Spotify’s policies. Some artists with as few as 1,000 streams or less have had their numbers reduced, while major artists—many of whom allegedly utilize stream farms and botted playlists—remain unaffected. Rock Sun Records is taking a stand to demand accountability and ensure its artists retain control over their music’s distribution.
“We have simply asked for accountability from Spotify on this issue, and until we have that clarity, we at Rock Sun feel the artist should control whether to include their music on Spotify,” says Tom Hooks, Founder of Rock Sun Records. “It’s about giving artists a say in where and how their music is shared, rather than allowing a platform with opaque policies to dictate their success.”
Hooks further highlighted that this issue does not appear to exist on other streaming platforms that do not rely on free-tier accounts. “The fact that we do not see this issue at other platforms like Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, or Napster speaks volumes to this being a systemic issue at Spotify,” he continued. “All we have asked for is a clear definition of what criteria they are using to make these determinations.”
This move by Rock Sun Records underscores a broader industry-wide call for fairness and transparency in digital streaming. As one of the first labels to give artists direct control over whether their music appears on Spotify, Rock Sun is setting a precedent for how independent labels can advocate for their talent in the face of corporate ambiguity.
The debate over Spotify’s artificial stream detection practices has intensified as more artists find their streams inexplicably removed without explanation. Many argue that Spotify’s policies lack consistency, unfairly punishing independent artists while larger industry players evade scrutiny.
With this latest initiative, Rock Sun Records is reinforcing its commitment to artist empowerment and ethical business practices. By prioritizing fairness and transparency, the label is ensuring that its artists have a say in how their music is distributed and monetized.
Media ContactCompany Name: Bludgeoned Music MediaContact Person: T. DavisEmail: Send EmailCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://rocksunrecords.com/
