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Petition: Demand that Musixmatch Respects Songwriters' Rights and Distribute Their Lyrics for Free


Musicians and songwriters all over the world are deeply upset by Musixmatch's latest policy changes! All of the lyrics you see on Spotify come from Musixmatch, and artists could submit them for free for years… until now! 

A policy change that negatively affects every singer/songwriter that releases music to digital streaming platforms, such as Spotify, and all users of streaming services who pay premium monthly subscriptions that include the song lyrics.

The petition: https://www.change.org/musixmatch-limiting-songwriters-exclusive-rights-to-distribute-lyrics

Musixmatch recently made changes that now requires all artists to purchase a Musixmatch Pro subscription before their lyrics are distributed and publicly displayed on streaming services like Spotify.

This is deemed unethical because:

  1. Many artists already pay their distributors (extra) to have lyrics published and synced on Spotify, and other platforms. Now artists are forced to additionally subscribe to Musixmatch Pro!

  2. Platforms buy licenses from Musixmatch to display all lyrics in their database.

  3. There is no other way for artists to get lyrics displayed on Spotify, and most of Musixmatch's partner platforms. One could challenge if this is abuse of monopoly power! 

  4. Subscribers of streaming services, such as Spotify, pay for premium subscriptions that include the display of available song lyrics. The policy change essentially downgrades the listening experience of fans on various streaming platforms (e.g. Spotify & Apple Music).

All in all, this leaves artists and fans in a tight spot. For independent artists, this is deemed especially problematic, because the cost of the paid Musixmatch Pro accounts is much higher than the potential royalties most artists receive for their song lyrics. 

Musixmatch essentially puts a price tag on an artist's exclusive right to have their creative output displayed publicly together with their music. This is also deemed to go against the main idea behind copyright law, which is to protect the songwriter's exclusive right to decide how their song lyrics are reproduced, distributed, and displayed to the public.

Without lyrics, Musixmatch would be out of business!

The solution is very simple!

Musixmatch already has a system in place that gives artists the possibility to be verified (the Musixmatch Pro Free account), but Musixmatch has placed the exclusive right that artists have to distribute lyrics to Spotify, and other platforms, behind a paid subscription (Pro Basic, or higher). 

We urge Musixmatch to reconsider their position and respect artists' rights by providing equitable opportunities for lyrics distribution. It is deemed a breach of every songwriter’s legal right to limit their capacity to display their song lyrics publicly, which is exactly what the current Musixmatch’s policies impose.

  1. We ask Musixmatch to stop requiring verified artists to pay for a mandatory Pro Subscription in order for their lyrics to be distributed to streaming platforms.

  2. Include the distribution and syncing of song lyrics submitted by / on behalf of verified artists in every Musixmatch Pro Free plan.

Stand with us in the fight to protect songwriters' rights. Sign this petition and make your voice heard. Demand fair music corporate policies.

Thank you!


Click here to view and sign the petition: https://www.change.org/musixmatch-limiting-songwriters-exclusive-rights-to-distribute-lyrics

Signing is free! (Change.org may ask you to sponsor them, which is optional)


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