At the World Economic Forum, a powerful and timely panel discussion brought together some of the most influential voices in music to address a pressing issue: the future of artist compensation in the streaming era. Hosted at Abraham House, the conversation—“The Power of Music to Drive Change Around the World — Stopping the Exploitation of Artists”—featured Wendy Starland (who discovered and developed Lady Gaga), Benny Pough (former President of Roc Nation), and Joaquín Cortés (renowned flamenco dancer and campaigner for human fraternity). The session was moderated by Nicole Enslein, Founder and CEO of Sublime Communications.
The panel explored how music can serve as a catalyst for social impact, while also highlighting the economic and technological disruptions reshaping the industry. A recurring theme was the urgent need to stop the exploitation of artists and to create business models that ensure fair compensation and long-term sustainability.
Key Takeaways:
Technology has democratized music production and distribution, allowing independent artists to create and share music without major label backing or expensive studio sessions. However, the ease of access has not translated into economic stability for creators.
Streaming economics remain grim, with artists earning just around $0.004 per stream. Even a staggering one billion streams nets an artist only about $45,000, revealing the inadequacy of current revenue models to support full-time artistic careers.
Artists today must operate as businesses, leveraging not just their music but also merchandise, touring, brand partnerships, and personal content to make a living.
Artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword in music. While it lowers the cost of production and enables innovative marketing, it also introduces serious IP and voice replication challenges, putting artist identity and ownership at risk.
New platforms like Music Soul offer a glimmer of hope by promising 70% of streaming and advertising revenue to artists—far more than traditional services—signaling a shift toward creator-first models.
The session highlighted music’s potential to inspire and connect people globally, while also pointing to the roles industry leaders, platforms, and policymakers could play in shaping a more equitable future for artists.
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ESG News coverage of the World Economic Forum was made possible by; FilmHedge, a leader in Film & TV financing.
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