While individual artists pulling their music from Spotify grabs headlines, a deeper, more organized effort is working to dismantle the system from within. Advocacy groups like the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) argue that while boycotts are powerful statements, true, lasting change requires collective action and legislative reform.
Joey DeFrancesco, a UMAW co-founder, explains that while the union “unequivocally supports” artists taking a stand, such individualized actions have their “limits.” The real power, he argues, lies in organizing. “What we try to do in the labor movement and at UMAW is to act collectively,” DeFrancesco states, highlighting a strategy focused on broad, systemic pressure rather than isolated protests.
UMAW’s effectiveness can be seen in its recent victories. The group was instrumental in a successful campaign that pressured the massive South by Southwest (SXSW) festival to drop the U.S. Army and weapons manufacturers as sponsors for its 2025 event. This win demonstrates the power of a unified voice in holding corporations and institutions accountable on ethical grounds.
The union’s most ambitious effort is its push for political change. UMAW is a key supporter of the Living Wages for Musicians Act, a landmark bill introduced by U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib. This legislation would create a new royalty fund and regulate Spotify’s payment structure to ensure artists receive a minimum of one cent per stream—a small amount that would nevertheless represent a massive increase for most musicians.
This focus on collective bargaining and policy reform marks a new phase in the fight for artists’ rights. It complements the “Death to Spotify” movement by tackling the problem at its legal and structural roots. By organizing for better wages and ethical corporate conduct, musicians are moving beyond simply leaving the platform; they are working together to fundamentally rewrite the rules of the entire industry.
More Than a Boycott: Inside the Push for Systemic Change in Music Streaming
