I hope he does too! @T.L 

You asked a very interesting question - when we have more news about its implementation, we can share more info about how much data will be disclosed to users as well. The principle is what we're fighting for, because we're all music lovers 

It's important to bear in mind that all revenue goes to labels first, and then subject to their contracts with artists, there's a redistribution 

I’m looking forward to it!

Hey @T.L 

I'm back with some news!

We want to launch a UCPS pilot this year. But to do it we need all of our label partners to agree. The discussions are positive, but not done yet 

I was signed up with both Spotify and Apple Music, but have just decided to sign up with Deezer precisely because I am absolutely convinced that the User Centric Payment System is the right way to do things. Indeed, I might mention that starting in 2015, I put a huge amount of effort (and about €25K of my own cash!), into setting up a User-Centric Streaming System of my own. It was called Fairstream. I actually had a company set up in the UK, and I had paid developers to develop a streaming app that could be downloaded for iOS and Android devices. I had the thing running on an Amazon Web Services site that could have handled 10,000 simultaneous streams. However, in 2018 I chucked in the towel, because despite my enthusiasm, I couldn’t get musicians sufficiently interested. And why would anyone pay a monthly subscription to listen to a few hundred tracks.

So, I was EXTREMELY happy to see that Deezer has taken up the UCPS idea. Is it actually working yet? Are there labels that are actually implementing the scheme? From Deezer’s site, I found a set of 14 different partners - mainly in France (which is fine with me, I live in France). I looked up there websites - and here they are (I couldn’t find two of them).

https://www.facebook.com/musicmanagersforumfrance/
https://www.iaomusic.org/
https://playtwo.fr/
http://lagam.org/
https://www.wagram-stories.com/
https://idol.io/en/
http://www.totoutard.com/
https://www.believemusic.com/
https://www.upfi.fr/
http://www.because.tv/en/
https://fede-felin.org/
https://outhere-music.com/fr
 

Now, if I knew which artists are signed up with these labels and producers, and if they were clearly committed to sharing my subscription money according to the time that I spend listening to those artists, I could easily decide that I would only use Deezer to listen to them. I could decide to listen to the major artists via my Spotify account, where clearly if my money goes to the Eagles, then OK, fair enough. But if there was one artist on one of the partner labels that I like, and I only listen them them via Deezer, can I conclude that of my €10 monthly payment, 30% would go to Deezer, and €7 to the one person I was listening to? If so, you have a real winner. I would happily pay Deezer €10 a month just to be able to directly support the artists that I care about.

Of course, it’s actually not enough for Deezer to hand €7 to the one producer/label that handles my favorite artist. That producer also has to accept that my money only goes to the artist that I want to support (and not have a deal where their biggest artists gets most of my money). That is maybe not something that Deezer can impose. But if that was the case, it would be up to artists to only sign with a producer or label that they can trust to treat them fairly.

Anyway - well done Deezer. I hope you can change the world with this scheme.

Hello @simonjthorpe, we’re still in the process of making it a reality, the negotiations with labels take longer than anticipated, as you can imagine. But this is a very important project for us. Thanks a lot for your support!

How can we support this idea?

Simply being the Deezer customer. Thanks for being one.

That @hpguru and also @SaraJaleh once we have our new website up and running, you can share the link on your socials 

(you can share it now, by the way  )

@SaraJaleh

→ https://www.deezer.com/en/ucps/me

@dee_dirk AWWW yeah on my way to do that

Big labels are greedy and most famous artists are not really that good anyway.

Happy Hardcore 24/7. I listen now Happy Hardcore a way too much and they should get paid.

I couldn’t care less what is trending on top lists as I love for Happy Hardcore 24/7 

I am not paying for famous names to get more.

Amazing sharing here and in your socials (I suppose) @hpguru @dee_dirk @SaraJaleh 

Deezer basically needs to convince the whole industry this is the fairest way to conduct streaming. The sky is the limit!

Interestingly, it looks like Tidal is implementing user-centric payments next year. Does this mean others are catching on?

It’s good, but it’s too much of a money to spend for that.

They need to add these things to consumer priced plans too. I think 19,99 may not be much for someone, but for product Tidal is, is asked too much. They do not have that great apps anyways.

Spotify and Deezer and Apple they all need to make it better for artists.

Without them there is no content on these apps .

It’s more money than the others, but I’m not sure about too much. Depending on the generation you come from, $20 a month on music is next to nothing. We’ve all been spoiled by ad-supported and/or cheap music plans at the expense of artists getting paid.

Granted, the $20/month audience is much smaller than the $10/month group, but I think the benefit for artists could be quite large.

Plus, it’s good to see action being taken by anyone to address royalties issues.

Interestingly, it looks like Tidal is implementing user-centric payments next year. Does this mean others are catching on?

 

only at their $20-25 tier, which we can all agree is a ridiculous price. and even if you buy a hifi plus subscription through best buy here in the US, Tidal will not honor the direct artist payouts or fan-centered royalties, claiming that it’s because it’s a third-party subscription, when it seems clear that it’s because Tidal isn’t getting their full pop on the sub. they are only willing to part with a sliver of their profits if it’s at their full, overpriced tier.

the whole thing is shady, and shadier still given Tidal’s history. i have a pre-paid annual subscription with them, but i offloaded my app. i’m not going to support them in any way.

@GropplerZorn - Can you expand on the history you’re referring too? I don’t think I’m familiar.

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/tidal-now-officially-a-suspect-in-norwegian-data-fraud-investigation/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/legalentertainment/2018/05/09/jay-zs-tidal-accused-of-inflating-beyonce-and-yeezy-streaming-numbers/?sh=39187afa61f3

there’s more if you want to look

@GropplerZorn - Well, hell. That makes me sad. Thank you.

ya me too. i know deezer is trying to make their ucps work, and having to address the challenge with the labels, but at least i feel like deezer is always acting in good faith.

Yeah, that’s again not too much, but it could be.

Now especially when you’ve read the bad news about their business model . In my life I have absolutely no problem at spending money, I just need to find need for it and value from it. Tidal’s apps are not that great on phone especially, so I’d not spend around 20 with them monthly. I already trialing them and cancled hifi plus under 3 mo trail. I reported them clever bug on search web app and it’s still not fix. Themost fun thing about them is when I canceled, they tried to offer 30% off from their hifi plus for 6 months I believe? No thanks.

I understand that if they have made their business model stand from the past, it’d be nice to give more for music I listen, but after all these news I really do not trust my faves will see a dime from Tidals. It’s all going to sony and warner music and big things.

After reading those two posted items and a bit of research I’m inclined to agree with you both. I suppose time will tell if they honor what they say they will do.

You can see from their app, they promote only music of their creators on their main page.

I don’t think Deezer needs much to overgrow them, at least I didn’t see bad news about Deezer.

Usually Tidal could be great, but they need to change owners maybe.

Feeling like certain artists were being pushed on me has been a grip I’ve had with Tidal both now and in the past.