DistroKid Union Petition: 4300 Artists Rally for Workers’ Rights
The DistroKid Union has delivered a petition to DistroKid management signed by more than 4,300 artists and record labels calling on the diy music distributor to reverse a decision to lay off 37 union employees.
DistroKid Union Petition: 4300 Artists & Record Labels Rally for Workers’ Rights
Among the signers of the DistroKid Union petition are artists Deerhoof, Guy Picciotto, Merlyn Wood, Sinkane, Bedouine, and record labels Topshelf Records, Damnably Records, and Dear Life Records.
DistroKid is the world’s largest online music distributor representing 30-40% of all new music uploaded to Spotify and other digital service providers.
The DistroKid Union was created in April, 2024 after 62% after DistroKid workers voted in favor of unionization.
The DistroKid Union petition, which was co-created with United Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) follows DistroKid’s decision in October to layoff 47% of its Union workers, including 5 of the 7 bargaining committee members, just an hour before the company was set to resume negotiations with the union.
“Distrokid has been dragging their feet with us at the bargaining table. They have yet to meaningfully respond to any of our economic articles, presented to them months ago”said Distrokid Union member Jase Ihler. “This petition, which includes countless Distrokid customers vowing to close their accounts, shows the company that their actions have consequences, and that Distrokid union members will not go quietly.”
“Musicians have made it clear that we stand in solidarity with the DistroKid Union. DistroKid would not exist without the workers who run it, nor without the musicians who use it, and we urge management to take this petition seriously, reinstate the workers, and bargain in good faith,” said UMAW organizer Joey La Neve DeFrancesco.
Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a Berklee College Of Music professor.
