Robert

@tst123 @Voroxpete

I’m always sad and embarrassed when I see someone who was “raise on welfare” and learned nothing from it.

Those of us able to think critically about our time being poor understand that no one aspires to do nothing with themselves. The despair of poverty doesn’t come from an unwillingness to do/be better; It comes from the belief that we’re **unable** to do so.

What you mistake for laziness is actually hopelessness. Having disdain for that is just a lack of empathy.

@beeng

That’s fair; I tend to get a bit too broad in my comments.

@beeng

By “luck” I’m assuming you mean “nepotism”, yes?

It doesn’t matter how lucky, talented, or hard working you are. We’ve known that the American music “industry” is an oligopoly for decades, now. Let’s not nurture the notion that it’s open for talented people to join off their merits.

@ZephyrXero

“But artists can self publish there now without a label and keep all of it if they choose.”

I did this. I toured for 3 years promoting an album my band self released through our school and Spotify paid me less than $10 a quarter for my efforts. That’s the “keep it all” you’re referring to.

The name of the game is “exploit the artist” and Spotify is playing dirty. Don’t fall for the lie that it’s their money and they deserve it.

@ZephyrXero @soyagi

What changed? Where is in the increase in value? Who sets the standard for that value? Why does the profit **still** not go to the artist?

If any of these questions had answers that weren’t dubious, then I’d be more open to this take. But as it stands? … It’s just greed.