A stream for consciousness: The co-op offering an ethical alternative to streaming giants like Spotify

The way we consume music has changed and with that, a field of thorns (this songwriter’s way of saying ‘streaming giants’) stands between the artist and the fan. Live shows are where artists make those direct connections and grow a community.It’s a clear demonstration of support; a physical presence in an overwhelmingly digital world. They’re also where musicians make the majority of their income. With that currently gone, a spotlight is shone on how the industry’s current structure means a lack of financial security and longevity for musicians.

In 2018, a group of musicians, designers and software engineers set out to re-design the current model for music consumption and began building the platform Ampled. From its inception to its launch, Ampled has grown into an artist-led cooperative, enabling the listener to show direct support and empowering the artist with total transparency (and shared decision-making power) into how those funds are distributed.

Here, the Ampled team talk about their journey from start-up to co-op and the values that drove the change.