Earlier this month, Spotify made the major announcement that their credit listings will now include both songwriter and producer information on the desktop version of the streaming service.
The updated credit feature displays the information provided from record label metadata, and will transparently show the source of the info to users. Spotify also acknowledged they would continually update and advance the feature to provide users with the most accurate credit information.
"The more we share information, the more opportunities we can help create for songwriters," Annika Goldman, Spotify director of music publishing operations, told Billboard. "This is just the beginning of making songwriter and producer credits more easily available to Spotify listeners, and we look forward to continually improving that information, in close collaboration with our music industry partners."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We know your fans love to know who wrote and produced their favorite songs which is why we're excited to start showing songwriters and producers credits in <a href="https://twitter.com/Spotify?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Spotify</a>'s desktop app. Find out more here: <a href="https://t.co/OfFxstMSBy">https://t.co/OfFxstMSBy</a> <a href="https://t.co/AadMuEszuu">pic.twitter.com/AadMuEszuu</a></p>— Spotify for Artists (@spotifyartists) <a href="https://twitter.com/spotifyartists/status/964883666672541698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This signals a welcome change as the Recording Academy has been advocating for credits on online music services through the "Give Fans The Credit" campaign. Vinyl LPs and compact discs provide liner notes with full credit information to allow fans to discover all the creators behind their favorite music. Though Spotify is finally getting onboard, this hasn't been the case with the digital music ecosystem.
Voracious music fans want to know who wrote, produced and played on their favorite tracks. Accurate credits in the hands of fans will lead to more music discovery, as fans are prone to want to explore more music to which their favorite songwriters and producers have also contributed. And of course, all music creators deserve to be credited for their work.
"Songwriters are an integral force behind the music we love," said Tiffany Kumar, Spotify's global head of songwriter relations. "With the newly launched credits feature, we aim to increase songwriter and producer visibility and, in turn, foster discovery among new collaborators, industry partners, and fans."
While Spotify's credit information change represents a step in the right direction, hopefully other companies will soon follow suit so that all music creators get their due recognition to keep the music playing for many years to come.
"I grew up on Top 40 radio; it's what I was exposed to and what attracted me," said GRAMMY-winning songwriter Diane Warren. "I loved listening to my older sisters' records, people like the Beatles and all of the Motown artists. But, believe it or not, I was more fascinated by the songwriters: Carole King, Leiber and Stoller, Burt Bacharach, and Hal David. Those were my idols.
"I want the next generation of great songwriters to have the opportunity to discover their musical heroes too. Let's 'Give Fans The Credit' so music fans can be inspired by everyone who works to create great music."
