Spotify launches "Dance like nobody's paying" campaign that annoys unpaid musicians.

In another chapter convincing us yet again that Spotify really hates musicians, these ads almost seem to antagonize on purpose. Spotify's big lie is that streaming habits mirror purchasing habits, but these days streaming revenue is down by half. The only solution to this is to get more streamers, and Spotify is now running this campaign giving a month free in hopes of attracting new customers. Musicians are reading the campaign completely differently. Musicians are noting that they, indeed, do not get paid, making the headline "Dance like nobody is paying" a slap in their faces. 

"Dance like nobody's paying" - latest @Spotify advert. Don't think the guy in the picture is a musician #ironywhatirony #musicindustry pic.twitter.com/rmPjjhUaSi

— Tom Hewson (@tomhewsonpiano) September 11, 2017

Here’s @Spotify’s new tone-deaf ad campaign. Keep in mind that it takes 380,000 streams a month on @Spotify for an artist to earn minimum wage. Meanwhile, the average @Spotify employee earns $14,000 a month. Nobody's paying? We musicians are, with our lives. #IRespectMusic pic.twitter.com/mroqQNGxLJ

— Blake Morgan (@TheBlakeMorgan) July 9, 2019

Others are making fun of the campaign from a completely different angle -  

Spotify is marketing to strippers now? pic.twitter.com/Oi3Kqi36zI

— Paul Ens (@paulens) September 22, 2017

Spotify's payout model has long been heavily criticized by musicians and tech workers alike, The Ringer even goes so far to wonder if it's wiping out the middle class. While musicians struggle, sue, and settle, Spotify claims it actually overpays musicians and are demanding refunds. 

So by all means, dance like nobody is paying, but know that when you do that, nobody is getting paid either.