To Spotify or not to Spotify
The last three weeks were pretty busy including the news that Spotify is going to change their policy on how they're paying artists on their platform, an upcoming James Bond party and an empty hotel.
Disclaimer: I took the liberty to put some of you on my newsletter list because we know each other or we collaborated before or I had the privilege of performing at an event for you. I hope you enjoy my updates - thank you!
What’s up:
Sunday, December 17th 2023 - Adventsbrunch at Seven Heavens - Skylounge in Eschen / Liechtenstein (solo) - S O L D O U T !!!
Monday, December 25th 2023 - Christmas Aperitivo at the Hotel Schloss Ragaz in Bad Ragaz / Switzerland (solo)
Wednesday, December 27th 2023 - Hotel Schloss Ragaz in Bad Ragaz / Switzerland (trio)
Sunday, December 31st 2023 - New Year’s Eve Party at the Art Deco Hotel Montana in Lucerne / Switzerland (band)
Monday, January 1st 2024 - New Year’s Aperitivo at the Hotel Schloss Ragaz in Bad Ragaz / Switzerland (solo)
Thursday, February 1st 2024 - Restaurant Europa in Zurich / Switzerland (trio)
There’s more #livemusic to come, so check frequently for further details here.
2 Albums & 3 Singles
To Spotify Or Not To Spotify
With the #spotifywrapped summary of the year 2023, I’ve seen so many different reactions from ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic $12 sandwich for 80 million streams video to musicians who used four letter words against the new Spotify policy in 2024 to pay only artists with more than 1000 streams per song per year.
Well, Spotify is the most dominant player in the music streaming business and it was just a matter of time until they would put up a bouncer at the door after certain ‘artists’ uploaded different kinds of noise of at least 31 seconds because after 30 seconds you get payed for a stream. People get creative when they develop a side hustle.
Nowadays you have to be on Spotify to be found in the world of music. At least when you’re independent you don’t have to share your pie with label, management, lawyer, publishing and others.
On YouTube you need at least 500 subscribers, uploading 3 videos in the last 90 days and la piece de resistance of 3000 public watch hours before you can monetise your channel. Good luck reaching that goal.
So how can you support your music? I’m planning to release my songs here on Substack first, where I can monetise my newsletter and only after a delay of several weeks I’ll release them on Spotify, Apple Music and others.
Do you think $8 per month is too much? Let me know what you think is appropriate.
Another way to support my music is in Switzerland via the app called TWINT, where you can transfer money to any one using the same app, if you know their phone number or have their QR-code.
I put it on my website and my new roll-up that I use for our new monthly gig every first Thursday of the month at Europa in Zurich starting on February 1st, because people don’t carry any cash with them anymore and if they want to buy any merchandise or want to tip the band, they can do it via TWINT.
Btw, do you appreciate lyrics (karaoke style) on Spotify, Instagram and other platforms to sing along with the song? I generally just listen to the songs. How about you?
My Substack Starters
In this section I exclusively release sounds and tales on Substack from my artistic life. I hope it will grow organically and improve with every new edition.
Today’s video is not an exclusive Substack performance.
For the upcoming James Bond themed new year’s eve party we’re going to play at the Art Deco Hotel Montana in Lucerne / Switzerland, I learned and rearranged Adele’s Skyfall on (acoustic) guitar, so the guys in the band can listen to my version before we play it on Dec. 31st. Enjoy!
My YouTube Channel Views
Here are the songs from my repertoire released on my YouTube channel playlist ‘Start Your Day With A Song’
These are my most viewed YouTube videos from the Start Your Day With A Song series so far. It’s great that most of my videos haven’t stalled yet and keep finding a new audience even though they’re more than three years old. Enjoy and I hope you like them.
On my Youtube channel you can also view ‘shorts’ videos, where I post raw clips of daily encounters and old concert footage that are quite hilarious when you see them again after a long time
ClickASnap Picture Book
In this section I feature a picture from my ClickASnap photo gallery and the corresponding story
This building is right at the railway tracks in Zurich's main train station and looks to me like a tsunami wave. The glass tiles reflect the sky and give it a blue shine. This angle was the only possible way to take a picture without the cables and wires around the building.
It could also be like a scene from the Christopher Nolan movie Inception with Leonardo DiCaprio where the buildings are folding up. What do you think?
Spotify Song Section
Songs from my Spotify playlist ‘My Songs & Stories’
I’m a big fan of Vulfpeck. Their concert at the MSG (Madison Square Garden) in New York was an epic show of musicians with plenty of Spielfreude. The audience is 100% riding along this rollercoaster of a concert.
And just a few days ago I saw a video of Bernard Purdie talking about the Beatles rumour that he played on several songs ‘fixing’ them.
Here he’s performing the classic George Harrison song ‘Something’ with Vulfpeck. What do you think?
I think he was maybe fixing early pre-1965 recordings, but later I don’t think so.