The Music Industry Is Broken
For too long, the music industry has operated on a model that extracts value from artists rather than empowering them. The rise of streaming platforms initially promised democratization but has instead created new gatekeepers and economic challenges for creators.
Average streaming payout per play on major platforms
Percentage of musicians who earn more than $50,000/year from their music
Of music industry revenue goes to the top 1% of artists
The Problems We're Solving
Unsustainable Economics
Most musicians can't earn a living wage from their art in the current streaming economy. With payouts averaging fractions of a penny per stream, artists need millions of plays just to earn minimum wage. This system forces creators to prioritize quantity over quality and chase viral trends rather than developing their artistic vision.
Algorithmic Gatekeeping
Black-box algorithms now determine which artists get discovered and which remain in obscurity. These systems are designed to maximize platform profits, not to support artistic merit or diversity. The result is a homogenization of music and fewer opportunities for innovative or niche artists to find their audience.
Disconnected Communities
The direct connection between artists and fans has been severed by intermediaries who control access and communication. Platforms own the relationship with listeners, leaving artists with little insight into their audience and few ways to build sustainable communities around their work.
Data Opacity
Artists have limited access to crucial data about who's listening to their music, where their fans are located, and how they're engaging. This information asymmetry makes it difficult to plan tours, target marketing efforts, or understand audience preferences.
Why Stamp's Approach Matters
For Artists
- Sustainable income from their creative work
- Direct ownership of fan relationships
- Complete creative control and rights ownership
- Transparent data and insights
- Community-building tools that foster genuine connections
For Fans
- Direct support of favorite artists
- Authentic connection with creators
- Discovery of music based on quality, not algorithms
- Community with like-minded music lovers
- Confidence that their support directly helps artists
For the Industry
- More sustainable economic model
- Greater diversity of musical expression
- Reduced power of gatekeepers
- Innovation driven by creator and fan needs
- Preservation of music as a cultural force
"The future of music depends on creating systems where artists can thrive economically while maintaining their creative independence. Stamp isn't just another platform—it's a movement to restore balance to an industry that has lost its way." — Maya Rodriguez, Stamp Artist & Advisor
Our Vision for the Future
We envision a music ecosystem where:
Artists can build sustainable careers based on their creative work
Fans directly support the creators they love and participate in vibrant communities
Musical diversity flourishes without algorithmic gatekeeping
Technology serves creativity rather than exploiting it
The value created by music flows primarily to those who create and appreciate it
This isn't just a business model—it's a movement to transform how music is created, shared, and valued in the digital age.
Join the Movement
Be part of building a better future for music.