If you’re anticipating Kanye West’s ‘Donda 2’ album, don’t look for it on popular music streaming services.
Kanye announced his forthcoming album ‘Donda 2’ is expected to be released on February 22nd. However, the album will not be available on any music streaming platforms (Apple, Spotify, YouTube, etc.) Instead, Kanye says the album will only be available on his platform, The Stem Player, which will run you $200.
“Donda 2 will only be available on my own platform, the Stem Player. Not on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or YouTube. Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes. It’s time to free music from this oppressive system. It’s time to take control and build our own,” Kanye wrote.
In another post, Kanye adds why he created his streaming device. He mentions his experience when he first got into the music industry and how he wasn’t getting respect from companies when earning money from the album sales.
“After ten albums after being under ten contracts. I turned down a hundred million dollar Apple deal. No one can pay me to be disrespected. We set our own price for our art. Tech companies made music practically free, so if you don’t do merch sneakers and tours, you don’t eat,” West wrote.
Kanye mentions the backlash Jay-Z’s Tidal streaming company got and how he’s not backing down from the naysayers.
“Jay Z made Tidal and fake media attacked him. Well, in the words of my big brother. Come and get me. I’m willing to die standing cause I ain’t living on my knees no more. God, please cover me.”
Looks like Apple Music caught wind of Ye’s decision to not have his music hosted on their streaming service. The rapper posted a screenshot of him receiving news that Apple no longer plans to move forward with a sponsorship deal the rapper had with the streaming service. In true Ye fashion, he captioned the IG post “Duh.”
