Aslice Closing: #RespectTheCreators – An AFEM Campaign
4,7 / 5,0 | 
Use the hashtag, #respectthecreators · Source: Aslice
Richie Hawtin responds to closing of Aslice · Source: Aslice / Richie Hawtin
Alice is shutting down · Source: Aslice
In the wake of Aslice shutting down, AFEM (the Association For Electronic Music) has launched a new campaign called #RespectTheCreators to bring awareness to the DJ/producer income gap.
Aslice Closing
[September 13, 2024] In case you’re just tuning in, DJ revenue platform Aslice has closed. Producer and DJ Richie Hawtin took to social media a few times, lamenting its closing and taking big DJs to task for not participating and helping to ease the growing income disparity between highly paid DJs and producers reliant on streaming for royalties. (You may want to get caught up with the original articles in this series below if you haven’t been following along.)
Last time we told you that AFEM, the Association For Electronic Music, was readying a new campaign to bring more awareness to producers. That’s now fully underway. Called #respectthecreators, it’s a way for DJs to recognize the producers whose music they play and promote them in the process on social media.
#RespectTheCreators in Three Ways
AFEM and the other participating organizations are asking DJs, sites and promoters to do three things:
- DJs, when you post a video of a gig or mix, tag the artists and list the full names of the tracks in a visible part of the post.
- Online platforms should also include track lists for all sets visible below the audio or video.
- Promoters, credit the music in your promotional material for events.
By properly crediting artists, fans can know not only who is making the music they love but also how to buy it.
“With the recent closure of Aslice,” says AFEM in its Instagram post about the campaign, “the role of producers is rightly back in sharp focus and we want to campaign for increased awareness, credit, and remuneration for #electronicmusic creators everywhere. This campaign is just the start.”
#RespectTheCreators: What Can Fans Do?
While this campaign is aimed largely at DJs and promoters, we as fans of electronic music can also play a part. One is to talk about the issue and use the hashtag #respectthecreators. Another is to remind DJs and promoters to properly tag the artists and include track lists. It’s not enough to ask other commenters for track IDs. Make sure the DJs are aware too.
Aslice Fallout
[September 11, 2024] Last week we reported on the closing of Aslice, a voluntary DJ revenue platform that attempted to right the growing imbalance between DJ performance fees and the lack of compensation for producers and musicians. (See original article below.)
In the wake of the announcement, DJ and producer Richie Hawtin posted a lengthy and emotional video to social media about the closing of Aslice. Although Hawtin was not an investor or partner in the company, he was an impassioned user, and judging by the content in the video, it was something that he felt very strongly about.
Richie Hawtin Responds
In answer to why Aslice was necessary in the first place, he wrote in the text accompanying the video, “For those not involved in the music business, let’s just say that the systems that exist for the normal music industry do not work for DJ culture, where the DJ uses other people’s music in their shows and walks away with a fee, while the musicians receive next to nothing.”
Participating DJs would report their set lists to Aslice and then give a taxable donation of five percent or more of their fee to the artists whose music they played.
“I have never been so disappointed”
“Aslice was a necessary platform for our unique electronic music ecosystem designed to help sustain the health, longevity and integrity of our scene by helping share DJ income more fairly,” Hawtin wrote. “With Aslice’s closing our culture’s core ideals have been challenged.
“I have never been so disappointed by my DJ friends and colleagues,” he continued. “They had no reason not to support Aslice and participate in helping change the economic inequality that has become part of our culture. Aslice did not fail. The famous, most followed DJs of our scene failed us all.”
Hawtin finished his video with the thought, “I can only hope that there’s some silver lining with this.”
A Silver Lining?
One initiative to make sure dance music producers get performance royalties from DJ sets that’s gaining some traction is KUVO, an app developed by AlphaTheta, which automatically records data from DJ sets and reports it to performing rights organizations.
As a producer of electronic music myself, this is an issue that I think deserves more attention. Would you be interested in seeing more stories about this? Let me know in the comments.
Quick update! Hawtin has posted on his social media channels, asking DJs to get in touch to talk about Aslice and income disparity. Maybe he’s making his own silver lining? If anything comes of this, we’ll be sure to report on it.
Aslice Shutting Down
[September 4, 2024] Dance music producers are not getting paid. Physical media sales have dried up and streaming royalties are a joke. While producers are supposed to receive performance royalties from PROs (performance rights organizations) like ASCAP and BMI, many do not due to outmoded and inaccurate reporting and royalty distribution systems.
Aslice, an alternative revenue-sharing program launched by DJ and producer DVS1 in 2022, attempted to correct this imbalance by offering a way for DJs to voluntarily donate a portion of their fees directly to producers. However, the company has announced that it is shutting down its service and is no longer accepting new playlists. No reason was given for the closure.
“In less than four years, Aslice proved that real change in the music industry is possible,” the company said in a statement on its home page. “Our community platform was built by artists for artists. We developed a revenue-sharing software that worked – without any corporate funding or influence. (We have) always been dedicated to ensuring music producers are compensated fairly, driven by a simple yet profound principle: share with the artists you love.”
How It Worked
Aslice was a voluntary payment system, with DJs donating 5% or more of their set fees to a pool that Aslice would then distribute to producers (minus a 15% fee). This was accomplished with a proprietary app that could identify artists based on songs in the DJ’s playlist. Money allocated for songs not identified was donated to a charity as chosen by platform users.
A Slice of Fairness
As part of its closure, Aslice generated a report called ‘A Slice of Fairness,’ (link here) detailing its efforts while it was active. According to the report, 4069 registered producers earned money through Aslice, with 29% reporting that this was the first time they had ever received money for their work. In addition, 60% reported that their earnings through the platform exceeded income from physical sales, streaming and other performance royalties.
A Noble Cause
With so many producers receiving money through the service, it’s unfortunate that the company is closing up shop. Maybe it was the voluntary aspect of the system that prevented DJs from signing up. Or perhaps a lack of awareness of the company at all?
Although Aslice is no longer accepting new playlists, it will honor royalty payments to producers until December 31, 2024. If you’re a dance music producer and think you may have unpaid royalties with Aslice, you can check on the site without having to sign up for an account. Check here.
More Information
This might also interest you
7 responses to “Aslice Closing: #RespectTheCreators – An AFEM Campaign”
Uh-oh Spaghetti Oh’s!
I don’t think I am owed any money but sure do feel sorry for anyone that is.
My friend Dan is owed a considerable amount of cash from this site – i sincerely hope he, and all other artists owed money are paid in full post haste.
Don’t worry little dude, Big Dan always gets paid in full! 💰 💰 💰
The failure of Aslice was utterly predictable to be honest. Very naive move indeed
Do you like replying to your own comments? Is it because nobody else talks to you in your mom’s basement?
Aslice tried unsuccesfully to cut up the cake a little more fairly. But in a world where 99% wanted the whole cake for themselves, in such a landscape, all egalitarianism has no chance. However, there is a better way, that the remaining 1% will probably suss out. But it will never occur to the 99%, and long may that continue…
I must Hawtin for having something that few have these days: courage, challenging and exposing the elite DJ’s whom have shown their cowardice and greed in this moment.
Few of his stature would be willing to take on others whom remain silent and by extension, complicit.
Who is Hawkin anyway? Looks like a derelict?
Feigning ignorance to sound “cool” only makes you look like an utter tool! Who cares what you think he looks like, listen to his message. And if you cannot agree with the message, the ignorance is all too real. F A W K face.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Facebook. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from Instagram. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou are currently viewing a placeholder content from X. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information