It’s 9 am on a Saturday, sunlight is pouring through the windows, and it’s time to clean up. You shout up the stairs to your kids to wake up, and they clumsily come down, wiping the crust from their eyes, groaning because they know it’s time to do chores. You head to your stereo and put on “Angel” or “Sweet Love”. (By now we should all know who I’m referring to.)
Sounds like a perfect Saturday right? Well, if you’re an Anita Baker fan like me, unfortunately you’ll have to find another artist to jam to. (May I suggest the other living legend, Toni Braxton?)
On March 9th, Anita took to Twitter with the following request “Miraculously… I have out-lived ALL, of my Artist Contracts,” the Rhythm of Love songstress tweeted. “They no longer ‘Own’ My Name & Likeness. And, by Law…30-year-old masters are to be returned to Me. Unfortunately, they’re gonna make me Fight 4 it. I’m Prepared 2 do that. Please Don’t advertise/buy them.”
It’s no surprise that the era of buying CDs is almost over, and streaming services have become the norm. You may be shocked however to find out that your favorite artist doesn’t make as much from you listening to their songs as you think. Anita Baker gave us a quick lesson on her Twitter feed: “Correction. 2020 Streaming rate: $0.003 – $0.005, [which is] 1/3 – 1/2 A PENNY Per Stream for Artists minus… *fees *taxes *ect. ect. They need to leave me alone fr,” she wrote.
This isn’t the first time an artist has had to fight for the masters to their music. Prince famously fought his record label, and did not allow his music to go on YouTube, and only did a streaming deal with TIDAL before he passed away.
While I don’t mind rocking to Toni Braxton for a while, I hope Anita Baker is able to get the rights to her masters soon, but until then, I will honor her request.
I hope you will too.
Candace Green is a Birmingham, Alabama transplant by way of Washington DC. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking and eating amazing food, and Marvel movies. She is an author and blogger. You can follow her on IG: c_dog93.
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