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France is making major streaming services pay up. Since the start of 2024, platforms such as Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music have been paying a streaming levy on their revenue. The country is using the proceeds to support its own music scene. The money goes directly towards productions, tours and smaller organisations within the industry. Classical music, chanson and jazz are benefiting in particular – genres that are often under pressure in the market. Around 10 million euros were raised in the first year. Less than expected, but enough to make hundreds of projects possible.
France introduced a streaming tax at the start of 2024. Since then, major streaming services have had to pay 1.2 per cent of their revenue generated in France if they exceed 20 million euros in turnover. This applies to subscription platforms as well as free, ad-supported services. The revenue goes to the Centre National de la Musique (CNM), a public body dedicated to supporting the music industry.
Weaker music genres such as classical and jazz benefit from funding from the streaming tax
A year later, it became clear that although the levy had raised less than expected, it was having an impact. According to reports, around €10 million was raised in 2024, rather than the €15 million the government had anticipated. According to the available articles, the money went towards hundreds of productions and tours, particularly in financially vulnerable sectors such as classical music, chanson and jazz. Many of these projects would not have taken place without this funding.
The former CNM president, Jean-Philippe Thiellay, defended the tax against criticism from streaming platforms. He explained that the levy is “not intended to finance the CNM, whose operations are funded by the state, but to finance creativity and diversity“. 100 per cent of this levy is reinvested in the industry.” This is the essence of the French model: the aim is not to fund the running of a public body but to provide additional support for music creators, labels, promoters and smaller organisations.
Since 2022, France has also had a minimum remuneration for artists in streaming
Spotify and Deezer have criticised the levy. Spotify argues that streaming is being taxed more heavily than CDs, vinyl records or radio. The head of Spotify France, Antoine Monin, also warned of disadvantages for European providers compared to large US corporations. Spotify later raised its prices in France, citing the new levy.
However, France does not regulate streaming solely through this tax. Since July 2022, there has been a minimum remuneration for artists in the streaming sector. The Ministry of Culture refers to this as a guaranteed minimum remuneration for performing artists and labels.
The French example thus demonstrates two things: a streaming tax does not solve all the distribution problems in the music industry. But it creates a public funding pot that can be targeted specifically where the market provides little support. For small-scale productions, tours and musical diversity, this can make a measurable difference after just one year.
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