On May 28th, 2025, the New York City Council voted to pass Resolution 368. This resolution supports the Living Wage for Musicians Act, which was introduced to Congress in 2024. This Living Wage Act aims to improve the pay of musicians by introducing a new streaming royalty system that pays the artist directly.
Artists and musicians have struggled to make ends meet in the modern era. In the past, it was common for artists and musicians to have sponsors such as wealthy individuals, the church, or even the state itself to act as their patrons. Artists would rely on these patrons to provide their daily necessities, and in exchange, they would provide them with art and music.
In modern times, this kind of practice has fallen in popularity, and now it is far more common for artists to monetize their work to the public. The most common method today is to receive royalties for your music, being paid per play of the song. The issue lies for many artists, in the ratio.
New York City Council Member Shahana Hanif stated after signing the resolution, “I’m thrilled the New York City Council is set to pass my Resolution 368 today, in support of the Living Wage for Musicians Act. In the music capital of the world, artists deserve fair pay and dignity.”
She continues her statement, “As streaming platforms pay artists less than a third of a penny per play, this will be a critical step toward making our city more affordable for working musicians to continue living and creating music here.”
The Living Wage for Musicians Act seeks to help artists by changing the ratio of pennies per play for streaming services. Instead of the artist receiving at times less than a third of a penny per play, the act would set the rate to 1 penny for each stream when the artist’s music is played on a streaming platform.
This resolution is just one step on the road towards giving musicians across the nation a fair wage for their art. If you also want artists to earn a fair wage, make sure to show your support online and vote when the time comes!
