BRINGING YOU MUSIC FROM YOUR 'HOOD, MADE BY YOUR PACK
While global music streaming promised to be an accessible distribution channel with almost unlimited global reach, the average song play nets an artist less than 0.005 cents. One million streams generates between $700 and $7000 on most major platforms. Streaming has also rendered physical product and digital downloads obsolete, decimating key recording revenue streams.
The Pack Music Cooperative is an emerging music streaming service that connects original, unsigned Australian musicians with local listeners, businesses and government. Driven by its commitment to sustainable and healthy creative economies, The Pack will redirect Australia’s streaming dollar from multinational corporations to Australian musicians. The Pack’s patron-powered co-operative combines invaluable community exposure with real revenue for Aussie artists.
The sad truth is... the average unsigned Australian musician earns less than $8,000 a year from their music practice, and it's hitting our artists hard. Mental health issues in the music industry are significant, and one of the main causes cited is financial insecurity.
While the net worth of the CEOs of global streaming services can reach into the billions, independent Australian artists are struggling to survive, and we want to change that.
We believe that it is vital that the business model of music streaming be redesigned to create viability and sustainability in the independent music industry – so that the wonderful local musicians that you know and love can afford to keep dedicating themselves to their craft.
Because every artist that you love, the creator of every song you listen to on Spotify, or YouTube, or Apple Music... was once an unsigned, local, original artist…
It's not just about money
65% of Australian musicians and music industry workers suffer depression or anxiety with financial stresses cited as one of the major causes.
To make back the cost of an average coffee in and Australian city on a major streaming service, a song must be streamed more than 1000 times.
Music streamed in our retail, commercial and hospitality spaces is mostly international, so royalties that should be retained by our industry are instead flowing out of it.
If you're keen to read up on the state of music streaming and the impact it is having on our local, independent recording artists, we've done a little research for you!
Dive deep into the underbelly of the music industry and truly understand the real 'why' of The Pack Music Co-op.
Warning: It's not light reading... you're likely to come away a little cranky, but hopefully inspired.