Musicians pour their hearts and souls into their work, shaping the culture we all love. But behind the music, many are barely scraping by. Streaming platforms like Spotify are profiting while creators are paid pennies. It’s time for that to change.

I’m Austin Moore-Farrow, founder of Bulletproof Soul and an artist myself. I’ve seen firsthand how the system exploits creators. This is a founding principal of Bulletproof Soul as a music group, movement and entertainment conglomerate. We exist to fight for fairness, justice, and equity in entertainment industries. This is why I’m calling for a congressional hearing to demand fair compensation and transparency in the industry. I’m prepared to stand before Congress and represent all artists in the fight for our rights.

Streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube pay artists between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream. To make just $1,000, an artist would need over 250,000 streams. With 90% of streams going to just 1% of artists, it’s no wonder so many musicians, especially those without massive labels behind them, are struggling to survive.

We’re calling for real change, and we need your help. Sign this petition to ensure artists are paid fairly and the music industry is held accountable.

Here’s what needs to happen:

Fair Pay for Streaming: Establish a minimum per-stream payout that ensures artists can earn a living wage from their work, similar to minimum wage protections in other sectors. Additionally, fortifying union protections through a union like the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) can provide artists with the collective bargaining power needed to secure fair pay and benefits. More government grants for music artists and music unions could also help ensure artists have the resources to navigate the industry.

Transparency in Royalties: Streaming platforms and digital distributors should be required to provide transparent data so that artists can understand how their revenue is being calculated and whether they are receiving their rightful share.

Platform Regulation: There needs to be government oversight through a dedicated regulatory agency to monitor and control what is allowed on streaming platforms. By preventing AI-generated content, fake bands, and scams from creating accounts, we can free up resources to focus on real artists. This would ensure more support for genuine creators and improve their visibility.

Quality Control: Allowing anyone to upload to streaming platforms creates an oversaturated and inequitable industry. We need regulations that require artists to provide Performance Rights Organization (PRO) information, adhere to certain audio mastering standards, and meet basic quality thresholds. Platforms should also implement transparent moderation systems and tiered artist support, promoting merit-based success while ensuring quality content.

This issue extends beyond the music industry. It’s part of a larger problem where workers who produce the wealth see the smallest share of it. Artists, like all workers, deserve to be compensated fairly for their labor, and the government has a role to play in ensuring that happens.

By signing this petition, you are joining the fight for fair pay and music industry regulation. The Senate Committee on Labor, led by Chairman Bernie Sanders, is the most appropriate body to initiate these steps and hold a congressional hearing, ensuring that the next generation of artists doesn’t have to face the same struggles. I believe standing before Congress is a necessary part of this movement, and I am ready to lead that fight.

We cannot let the voices that shape our culture continue to be exploited. Sign today to help us build a system that rewards the creators who make the music we love.