Warner Music group is to stop licensing its artists' content to free online streaming sites like Spotify, We7 and Last.FM. Speaking about the decision, Warner Music's chief executive Edgar Bronfman Jr said that the kind of services currently offered by streaming sites were "clearly not positive" fo...
Warner Music group is to stop licensing its artists’ content to free online streaming sites like Spotify, We7 and Last.FM.
Speaking about the decision, Warner Music‘s chief executive Edgar Bronfman Jr said that the kind of services currently offered by streaming sites were “clearly not positive” for the music industry, reports BBC News.
“Free streaming services are clearly not net positive for the industry and as far as Warner Music is concerned will not be licensed,” explained Bronfman. “The ‘get all your music you want for free, and then maybe with a few bells and whistles we can move you to a premium price strategy’, is not the kind of approach to business that we will be supporting in the future.”
While the move means that Warner Music acts such as REM, Muse and Red Hot Chili Peppers may not be available to streaming services in the future, a spokesperson for the company confirmed that at present the new plans are unlikely to affect current deals, reports the Guardian.
Bronfman added that he wants to work on a subscription service unique to Warner Music, where people would pay a set fee in return for content.
