What Happens When an Artist Removes a Song from Streaming Services?

The act of withdrawing a musical work from digital streaming platforms, while often done as an exercise of artistic autonomy, can still sometimes trigger legal, financial, and reputational ramifications.

Why Artists Take Songs Down from Streaming

Artistic Control
Artists might want to pull songs from streaming platforms as a matter of artistic integrity. For example, Matty Healy, lead singer of The 1975, recently confirmed on Reddit that the song “Human Too” from their latest album Being Funny in a Foreign Language was taken off streaming platforms simply because he felt the album stood stronger without it. Such decisions reflect the artist’s continuing quest for authenticity and improving their craft.

Response to Controversy and Reputation Management
Parallel to artistic motivations, removal of a song may also serve as a reputation management device. Occasionally, an artist faces pressure—from controversy, copyright complaints, or unexpected fan backlash when releasing a new song. In these cases, the removal is often a practical step to safeguard reputation and swiftly address legal or ethical disputes. Similarly, artists may remove a song from streaming platforms if they collaborated with someone in the past who has since been subject to controversy or faced legal trouble, such as Lady Gaga removing Do What U Want.

Who Holds the Power?

Contractual Rights: Labels and Artists
The authority to take a song off platforms is determined by artist contracts. In many traditional arrangements, record labels hold exclusive rights to distribute and withdraw music. Some high-profile artists, however, negotiate for consultation or approval to release promotional singles, and such control may be extended to album tracks as well. In the case of star artists, the label will likely be receptive to an artist’s request to take down a track as a matter of maintaining a good relationship. In the case of “Human Too” by The 1975, this decision was probably not hard for the label to make since the track was not a major hit and it had already been out in the marketplace for three years - most of the significant commercial activity had likely already happened.

What Happens to Revenue and Discovery?

Royalties: When the Money Stops
Streaming services pay out royalties per stream—small amounts, but with cumulative significance. With a removal of a song, all parties with earnings rights (artists, songwriters, producers) see that revenue stream end immediately. The financial impact depends on the track’s popularity and contractual splits.

Visibility: Out of Playlists, Out of Mind
A song’s disappearance extends beyond lost earnings. It vanishes from search, curated playlists, and algorithm-driven recommendations. This disrupts organic discovery and can shrink the artist’s reach, particularly for tracks with enduring fan appeal, as sudden absence of high-profile songs often won’t go unnoticed.

Nuanced Royalty Implications

Who Loses Out?
All participants with a claim to royalties lose future revenue when streaming stops. This includes songwriters and producers who might not even be involved in the removal decision. Typically, accrued royalties for past plays remain payable, but no new income accrues post-removal.

Potential Breach of Contract
Pulling a song without proper authority or notice can breach an artist's recording agreement. Recording agreements almost never provide artists with discretion to take down streaming tracks at their own discretion.

Case Studies:

Prince: Control and Protest
Prince’s decision to take his catalogue off major streaming platforms in 2015 became a landmark in the ongoing dialogue about fair compensation to artists, demonstrating the real-world power of withholding access as a negotiating tool.

Taylor Swift: Redefining Artist Leverage
In 2015, Taylor Swift withheld her album “1989” from Apple Music, publicly criticizing Apple’s plan not to pay artists during the service’s three-month free trial; within a day, Apple reversed the policy, agreeing to pay royalties throughout the trial in direct response to Swift’s protest.

Lasting Impact: Beyond the Numbers

Fan Engagement and Trust
Removing a song has emotional stakes as well; dedicated fans notice, and some may lose trust or interest in an artist if their favorite tracks become inaccessible. Artists must weigh the long-term effects on their brand and community.

Artist and Label Relations
High-profile removals prompt record companies to consider the value of maintaining good relations with their artists versus the commercial value of keeping a track available for the consuming public. These developments signal a broader power shift in the music industry: as artists accrue leverage, labels might be more willing to consider requests that may not be clearly spelled out in the artist’s agreement.

Conclusion
Taking a song off streaming services is a decision rich in legal nuance and economic impact. Artists and labels must approach it with forethought and collaboration, ensuring that creative priorities, revenue, and rights are properly balanced.

In summary, when an artist removes a song from streaming services, the consequences can ripple across finances, legal contracts, and fan relationships. It is a legal and commercial act, bound to the intricate web of royalty allocation and contract law.

FAQ

Who ultimately decides if a song can be removed from streaming platforms?

• The controlling party is dictated by the contract; unless expressly reserved to the artist, labels typically possess this authority.

What is the immediate financial impact of song removal?

• All streams and associated royalty flows cease prospectively, impacting artists, songwriters, and publishers alike.

Can improper removal constitute a breach of contract?

• Yes. Unauthorized removal may constitute breach, inviting contractual remedies and liabilities.

Are previously accrued royalties affected by removal?

• Previously reported royalties are generally still payable, but future accruals halt; contractual exceptions may apply.

Does song removal have reputational consequences for artists?

• It can, affecting both public perception and the scope of future negotiations.