Skip to main content

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)


Popular posts

"Guide Me (O, Thou Great Jehovah) / Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Ezra Worship Initiative – Ancient Wisdom, Fresh Waves

I'm sitting in traffic, Spotify on shuffle, listening to my collection of new releases. That's when the song "Guide Me (O, Thou Great Jehovah) / Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Ezra Worship Initiative starts to play. The song starts with a revamp of a 280-year-old hymn "Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah", and then beautifully transitions to the chorus of Hillsong's "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)". This medley made my heart do a little cartwheel!  The hymn "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" (originally "Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch" in Welsh) by William Williams (a Welsh Methodist preacher) was inspired by the biblical story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Williams wrote this in 1745 as a plea to God for guidance while traveling through life's wilderness. A 280-year-old plea that is still very relevant for us today.  "I am weak, but Thou art mighty // hold me with thy powerful hand," a thought that ...
More >>

'Lonely Dirt Road' by Dax: A Journey to Solitude and God

Dax's 'Lonely Dirt Road' is a conversation that Dax has with himself and God. Dax shares his journey of turning mental health walks into healing solitary drives. As you listen, you can almost feel the cruise, where it's just you, your thoughts, and God.  The chorus is so relatable: 'When I need space, that's where I go, a place to escape that nobody knows.' What do you do when life's pressures stack high? Do you also have a space where you can let go? That lonely dirt road that Dax sings about symbolizes solitude, but it is also an incredible opportunity for connecting with God.  Dax's honesty is raw and relatable. 'I didn't want my family to see me cry… dealing with the pressure of trying to provide.' There are times when we all put on a smile to hide how challenging situations may be. Like his father, Dax says that he finds peace on this lonely road, where challenges become opportunities to grow. This shows the core of our faith: that...
More >>

"Heartbeat" by Laura Leighe - Dancing in Worship

Here's a song that's more or less been stuck in my head since I heard it. It's called 'Heartbeat' by Laura Leighe and is what Laura calls a "reggaeton-influenced Christian pop duet" that's all about surrendering to God's rhythm and dancing in worship, no matter what life throws your way.  The lyrics remind me of two scriptures: "Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe."  - Psalm 150:4 (NIV) and "Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might."  - 2 Samuel 6:14 (NIV). Maybe I'm a bit prejudiced because the song reminds us of our own thoughts when we founded "Christian Dance" years ago and picked a name. Focusing on music that allows us to feel joy and causes us (our hearts) to dance for God, a pure form of worship that we know is pleasing to God. The lyrics are about surrendering our control and trusting in God's plan. Laura sings, "I bet you f...
More >>