Spotify is a pretty big deal at this point, even if not every single band has decided to let them stream their new albums just yet. A few notable powerhouses like Coldplay, the Black Keys and Beyonce are still holding out on the music streaming juggernaut, and Spotify is starting to feel cocky enough to call them out on it. If you head over to, say, the Black Keys’ Turn Blue page on Spotify, this is the message you find. Not antagonistic, but definitely shifting the blame. “Some people just won’t listen to reason,” the message seems to be saying. “What can you do?”
Like it or not (and most music execs do not), Spotify is changing the game. But as long as musicians of Beyonce’s caliber refuse to play ball, Spotify still isn’t quite the go-to source for music it desperately wants to be. Coldplay and the Black Keys come with built-in audiences—they’ll collect millions in royalties no matter what. Giant, platinum-selling bands may have more to lose by going to Spotify than to gain, but such bands are definitely the exception. And with Spotify trying to shame everyone into reconsidering, it’s anyone’s guess how long they’ll hold out …
