Quit bitching about Spotify and go build your audience. You won't care about the stream rates when you're doing hundreds of thousands of streams a month.
Major labels, and serious independent labels want to work with artists who have an audience, and great songs.
If you don't have reach, you don't have much of a chance. You should be building your base daily BRICK BY BRICK.
If you're trying to get signed in 2025... the grind will relentless. You need to have more going on than ever to get these labels' attention.
A&R are looking for solid DEVELOPMENT.
Surprise and delight your fans online. Don't preach at them and interview them with countless engagement farming questions. That's no way to build a fan base.
You should be using as many data points as you can to evaluate your career, and push for growth. Data and analytics are huge game-changers for forward motion.
There will be moments where you get punched down, fall down, or shrink. It's okay though.
The rebuild is incredible. You come back better, smarter, and more ready to take on the world!
If you're still sitting around bitching about Spotify's "under 1000 streams" payment switch, you're doing it wrong.
You're not marketing enough nor making enough real people connections.
Get to WORK.
Artists: If your whole personality online is you bitching about "the industry" or complaining about Spotify... its no wonder you don't have audience.
What fan wants to get caught up in a bunch of inside baseball/industry speak? Almost none.
Never stop meeting new people, and introducing new people to your music. You have to build this ONE fan at a time.
The sooner you tune your thoughts in this direction, the better.
If you're an independent recording artist, you need to be making moves WEEKLY. New music, promos, drops, shows, fan opportunities, social media... if you're not moving, you're dying.
It's time to WORK.