Your Local Cafe Is Probably Streaming Music Illegally
Artists are losing billions because small businesses use personal Spotify or Apple Music accounts.
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Artists and record companies lose $2.7 billion in revenue annually because small business owners typically stream music from personal accounts at cafes or barber shops rather than a commercial-use license.
Music makers earn a lot more when their tunes are aired in restaurants, stores and other business venues to help drum up extra trade. Consumer streaming services, such as from Spotify Technology SA and Apple Inc., don’t include those rights, according to a Nielsen study.