#15: How Fans Can Change Everything (And Why Artists Need You More Than Ever)

In this Thanksgiving special episode of Sold 4 a Song, Terry Sawchuk speaks directly to music fans and creators alike, pulling back the curtain on why being a songwriter in the United States is anything but a free-market profession. Terry explains how intermediaries — from Live Nation and Ticketmaster to DSPs and social platforms — control market share, inflate costs for fans, and extract the lion’s share of revenue while creators earn fractions of a penny. He walks listeners through how streaming royalties actually work, why songwriters make hundreds instead of tens of thousands where they once did, and how record labels reshaped streaming economics in their favor before Spotify was even allowed into the U.S. market. The episode also explores a rarely discussed issue: the absence of a songwriter union, the centralized power of the U.S. Copyright Board, and how government-controlled royalty rates eliminate true market dynamics for creators. Terry contrasts this with how songwriters are paid internationally, particularly for live performances and film music. At its heart, this episode is about bridging artists and fans directly — restoring connection, transparency, and value by bypassing gatekeepers. Terry closes by expressing gratitude to listeners and reaffirming that the future of music depends on ownership, direct relationships, and creator-controlled platforms. Takeaways There is no true free market for songwriters in the U.S. Fans and artists both want connection — intermediaries disrupt it Live Nation operates as a near-total monopoly in live music Streaming payouts heavily favor master owners over songwriters A million Spotify streams can earn songwriters only hundreds of dollars Major labels reshaped streaming economics before launch Social platforms monetize artists and fans as the product Songwriters lack union protection unlike other entertainment roles Many U.S. performance royalties never reach creators Direct artist-to-fan relationships restore value and sustainability Titles Why Songwriting Isn’t a Free Market — and Never Has Been A Thanksgiving Thank You to the Fans (And the Truth About Music Money) Sound Bites “There is nothing free market about being a songwriter.” “Fans and artists are both looking for connection.” “The middlemen control the experience — and the money.” “You can’t cash likes at a bank.” “Nobody leaves the driveway until someone writes a song.” Chapters 00:00 The myth of the free market for songwriters 02:37 Bridging artists and fans 04:55 Live Nation, Ticketmaster, and market control 07:18 Streaming economics explained 11:55 Why songwriters earn the least 14:23 Copyright control and government-set royalties 16:45 Why U.S. songwriters miss live performance pay 18:30 Gratitude to fans & closing reflections If today’s episode lit a fire in you, don’t let it fade. Subscribe to Sold 4 a Song, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Sold 4 a Song™ Podcast hosted by Terrance Sawchuk, Billboard #1 multi-platinum songwriter, producer, artist, mixer, & entrepreneur. Sold 4 a Song™ is a living exploration of creative worth, ownership, and the true value of music — inside the systems that monetize it. If this episode resonates, you can follow the work at sold4asong.com. Keywords songwriters, music industry, free market, Live Nation, Ticketmaster, Spotify, royalties, artists and fans, music monopolies, copyright board, PROs, streaming economics, creative ownership I