Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Great Big Sea Co-Founder Séan McCann Supporting Canadian Artists By Not Releasing Music On Spotify

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Great Big Sea Co-Founder Séan McCann Supporting Canadian Artists By Not Releasing Music On Spotify
Séan McCann
Fri Feb 11, 2022
Cashbox Canada

With the recent exodus of high-profile artists pulling their catalogues from Spotify in protest of misaligned values, Canadian Celtic folk-rocker and Great Big Sea co-founder Séan McCann is nodding right along in agreement beside them.

The chain of events surrounding artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell’s departure confirms what the artist has long felt: “Spotify’s decision to prioritize certain creators on the app underscores the company’s profit-at-any-cost priority,” McCann says. “This proves it was never about the music, and it’s artists who are ultimately paying the price.”

For his part, McCann’s solo catalogue held over 87,000 followers on Spotify, and had 52 songs uploaded for streaming.

“After five years, my solo catalogue has earned a sum total of $640.25 on Spotify,” McCann reveals — adding that other platforms, including Apple, are similar enough. “I found myself asking: Spotify founder Daniel Ek has a personal net worth of more than $4.7 Billion, but he can only ‘afford’ to pay songwriters $0.003 per stream?”

The facts-of-the-matter recently came to a head for McCann when he chose to not offer his latest album, the rollicking folk-rock opus that is SHANTYMAN, on the platform. Not only did he invest in the talents of fellow music greats like Hawksley Workman, Gordie (Big Sugar) Johnson, J.P. Cormier, Jeremy Fisher, and Ken Friesen to contribute, but the LP was also released on Labour Day — a pointed decision to comment not only on the shanty’s ability to help people through hard times like Covid, but to celebrate a historic day that underscores workers rights achievements.

“I chose not to ‘give’ my new songs away on streaming platforms because they do not compensate creators fairly,” McCann says. “This is not all about the money; music is far more important than cash. But I believe it is unconscionable to profit so perversely off the labour of actual creators.”

SHANTYMAN is the sound of freedom and release, belted out by a voice that was strengthened by weathering many personal storms. It's also perhaps the best GREAT BIG SEA album you’ve never heard, and it is exclusively available now via seanmccannsings.com

Features
Music
Séan McCann
Month: Jul 2022
You Need To Understand Critics Today Jul 08
Future Echoes does Norrköping Music Day again 25 of August, 2022 in… Jul 08
Chicago Feeling Stronger Every Day with the Release of New Single, “If This is… Jul 08
St. John's NFLD Pop Artist Rachel Cousins Dazzles with New “For Myself" Single… Jul 01
Toronto Singer-Songwriter Henry Lees Releases “Walking With Fear” in Support… Jul 01
The Investment Time Required Of An Artist Is Much Longer Today! Jul 01
Award-winning Artist Julian Taylor releases new single “S.E.E.D.S” from… Jul 01
Michelle Wright Small Town Jul 01
Month: Jun 2022
Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival Returns June 21-26 2022 Jun 24
Word Poopers Jun 24
JUNO-Nominated & Award-Winning Canadian Reggae Icon Jay Douglas Releases… Jun 24
Massey Hall A Place For The People Jun 24
Why Social Media Numbers Don’t Really Count Jun 17
Indigenous Canadian Pop-Trap Artist Mattmac Sits Down For Heart To Heart… Jun 17
LGBTQIA+ Pop Star ANA PAC Empowers & Inspires with “Bite The Rainbow”;… Jun 17
Michael Bolton and Kenny G Are RESTORING HOPE at Roy Thomson Hall June 20 Jun 17
SPIKE Is A New Showcase Festival With A Big Potential Jun 10
We Don’t Write The Soundtrack To Our Lives, Just The Background Elevator Music Jun 10
Danny Blueberry Dives Into His Archives to Fish Out a Tune Treasure with “Space… Jun 10
NXNE Takes Over Toronto’s Best Music Venues June 14-19 Jun 10

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 19
  • Page 20
  • Page 21
  • Page 22
  • Current page 23
  • Page 24
  • Page 25
  • Page 26
  • Page 27
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers