For once, the debacle regarding whether or not Adele‘s new album will appear on Spotify or not has nothing to do with royalties. In a statement to The Verge, a senior executive at Spotify said “It is categorically untrue that anyone has asked us to feature Adele’s new album on premium only”. (So did the album even though it is not out yet because of presales.) Call it pent-up demand or just plain excitement, but Adele is everywhere on television and news covers in a media blitz ahead of a blitz on the airwaves and charts with her new songs later this month.
Advertisement
It has today been reported that there is potential Adele could withhold her new album “25” from Spotify and it all falls down to one of Spotify’s core principles: Its free tier. Back in 2013, Beyoncé released her self-titled album as an iTunes exclusive, and a year ago, Taylor Swift kept “1989” away from Spotify.
Rumor has it Adele’s 21 is the greatest album of all time, at least according to Billboard.
This isn’t the first time that Adele has had a run-in with Spotify, though. Adele’s “21” album came out in 2011 and won six Grammys; record of the year, album of the year, song of the year, best pop solo performance, best pop vocal album, best short form music video.
Adele’s third studio album “25” will be released worldwide on November 20. And she sang in full-throated glory, capturing the vengeful bite of past hits like “Rolling in the Deep” and the hushed suspense and pealing chorus of her new one, “Hello”. Artists will have to rethink their monetization strategies, and Bitcoin will play an important role in the future of the music industry. Seemingly Apple Music is “likely to have 25 within a few weeks of its release”. Apparently Apple had (unsurprisingly) tried to get Adele to sign an exclusive with their platform, but were apparently rebuffed by the singer and her team.
Advertisement
This controversy has conveniently paved way for Apple to initiate a deal with the British artist for its own streaming service, Apple Music. Her stage arrangements echo her albums; she wants the songs familiar enough for fans to sing along.
