The Essentials

Steve Angello: Artists Who Complain About Streaming Do It For Publicity

Steve Angello, DJ, producer, and a former Swedish House Mafia member, has some things against artists who knock streaming services are simply doing it for “publicity.”

During the Web Summit in Dublin, Angello said that the artists do not have a right to choose one streaming service over another.

“I see it as record stores — why would I not allow a record store to release it? A 15-year-old might not to be able to afford Apple, Spotify, Tidal and Google. Why would you limit those guys from hearing your music?”

Angello continued to point out that “every streaming service does pay” and that artists should “go back and talk to their record labels” if they are not seeing the proper compensation.

“Downloading and streaming is the evolution of music services,” Angello said.

While some think of it as stealing, Angello thinks of streaming as the evolution. Do you agree with him?