In a revealing social media post, Taproot drummer Jarrod Montague shed light on the stark reality of streaming payouts for musicians. By sharing his streaming royalty payouts for the last quarter of 2023, Montague highlighted the financial challenges that even well-known artists face in the streaming era.
Montague’s post detailed the earnings from various streaming platforms, showing the significant gap between the perceived popularity of music and the actual financial compensation artists receive. He humorously noted earning a mere $0.01 from Snapchat, adding, “My kids will be so proud. Thanks for listening!” This post underscores a widespread issue within the music industry, where streaming has become the primary mode of consumption but often falls short in compensating artists fairly.
Taproot, a Michigan-based band that gained prominence during the nu-metal era with their debut album “Gift” in 2000, has seen fluctuating success over the years. Their sophomore album “Welcome” peaked at No. 17 in 2002, but subsequent releases didn’t maintain the same chart success. Despite their steady presence in the scene, Montague’s experience reveals the harsh economic realities of streaming services, which remain a hot topic of debate among artists and industry professionals.
In the past, Montague left the band in 2008 but returned for guest appearances and rejoined in 2023. His insights into the band’s royalty splits—30/30/20/20 among members—further emphasize the modest financial returns from streaming, even for bands with a dedicated fanbase. With over 263,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Taproot continues to reach audiences, but the financial benefits remain limited.
Montague’s transparency about his streaming royalties has sparked conversations about the need for fairer compensation models for artists. As streaming continues to dominate the music landscape, the call for change grows louder, advocating for a system that better supports the creators behind the music we love.