Kanye on why Donda 2 won’t be available for streaming: “Song Writers have been really hurt by streaming platforms”
DONDA 2 will only be available via the rapper’s $200 stem player device.
Image: Francis Specker / Alamy Stock Photo
Kanye West recently took to Instagram to share his thoughts about streaming services, claiming those platforms have “really hurt” songwriters.
- READ MORE: Kanye’s Donda 2 will be exclusive to his Stem Player, won’t be coming to streaming services
The comments follow after the rapper announced that his forthcoming album Donda 2 will be released exclusively on his Stem Player, a $200 device that allows users to play and “customise any song” by giving them control over “vocals, drums, bass, and samples,” and also “isolate parts,” “add effects,” or “split any song into stems.”
Revealing that he’s made over $2.2 million on Stem Player sales in one day, Kanye wrote about his decision to completely bypass streaming services in a now-deleted Instagram post: “I walked away from Apple right after having the most number 1’s in Apple history. Song Writers have been really hurt by streaming platforms.”
“Some say I’m the only one who can make this change. So as the leading innovator in music of the past 20 years. I’m putting my own work on the line to change it. I’ve already won by not being afraid to move. Now we’re winning because there are true supporters that have invested their hard earned money in my vision of freedom.”
“Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes. It’s time to free music from this oppressive system. It’s time to take control and build our own,” West said on Friday after revealing that his album would only be available on his Stem Player.
Apple has allegedly pulled their sponsorship deal with West after the announcement.
According to DJ Akademiks, the deal, which was said to be worth $2 million, was pulled because Apple was planning to stream a Donda 2 concert event on the day of the album’s release.
Apple pulls $2 million + sponsorship deal from Kanye West after he announced he won’t be putting Donda 2 on Apple Music. They were going to stream the 2/22/22 event.
— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) February 18, 2022
Meanwhile, West has announced his plans to host the “Donda Experience Performance” at LoanDepot Park in Miami on 22 February, the album’s prospective release date.
