Spotify CEO Daniel Ek sparked an online backlash after a social media post in which he said the cost of creating “content” is “close to zero”.

The boss of the streaming giant said in a post on X: "Today, with the cost of creating content being close to zero, people can share an incredible amount of content. This has sparked my curiosity about the concept of long shelf life versus short shelf life.

"While much of what we see and hear quickly becomes obsolete, there are timeless ideas or even pieces of music that can remain relevant for decades or even centuries.

“Also, what are we creating now that will still be valued and discussed hundreds or thousands of years from today?”

Music fans and musicians were quick to call Ek out, with one user, composer Tim Prebble, saying: “Music will still be valued in a hundred years. Spotify won’t. It will only be remembered as a bad example of a parasitic tool for extracting value from other peoples music. (or “content” as some grifters like to call it).”

Musicians weighed in too, with Primal Scream bassist Simone Marie Butler saying: “Fuck off you out of touch billionaire.”

  • Guntrigger@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    114
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    5 months ago

    “Also, what are we creating now that will still be valued and discussed hundreds or thousands of years from today?”

    Certainly not your vapid tweets, mate.

      • Tikiporch@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        10
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        5 months ago

        CEOs haven’t been a thing for hundreds of years, but many come to mind for most folks. In fact, I’d wager most can probably name more “CEOs” from the 19th century than they could musicians. Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Ford. Some say they were Captains of Industry, others may, more accurately say Robber Barons. Good or bad, we remember them.

        • Yardy Sardley@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          12
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          5 months ago

          That’s not really a fair comparison. Robber barons got to build statues and skyscrapers as testaments to their own vanity, meanwhile recorded music was still in the process of being invented. Even so, I’ll make the point that names like Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky are equally as recognizable.

          • Tikiporch@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            4
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            5 months ago

            I disagree it’s an unfair comparison, but don’t care to argue about it. That said, I’m glad we can agree 19th century musicians and titans of business are equally recognizable.

    • ditty@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      If he doesn’t believe current music will stand the test of time, he’s in the wrong industry