The Cost of Creation

 

A few days ago, Daniel Ek, the CEO of Spotify, made some comments on Twitter.

This has caused quite a bit backlash and controversy, and rightfully so. It demonstrates a disturbing attitude and ignorance of what the creation of art involves. This isn't surprising coming from a man whose company seems determined to find any means possible to avoid actually paying the artists whose music is featured on their platform (mine isn't; I'm not letting them steal from me). 

So, immediately after becoming aware of this statement, I went on Bluesky and write a lengthy, spur of the moment series of posts about how dreadfully this man misunderstands what the creation of art entails. A lot of people seemed to agree with what I wrote, so I've decided to consolidate those posts here into one piece.

First, this is what Daniel Ek said:

“Today, with the cost of creating content being close to zero, people can share an incredible amount of content. This has sparked my curiosity about the concept of long shelf life versus short shelf life. While much of what we see and hear quickly becomes obsolete, there are timeless ideas or even pieces of music that can remain relevant for decades or even centuries.

 For example, we’re witnessing a resurgence of Stoicism, with many of Marcus Aurelius’s insights still resonating thousands of years later. This makes me wonder: what are the most unintuitive, yet enduring ideas that aren’t frequently discussed today but might have a long shelf life? Also, what are we creating now that will still be valued and discussed hundreds or thousands of years from today?”

 

And here is what I wrote in reaction, in a very angry state!

 

The Cost of Creation

 

So the Spotify asshole thinks the cost of creation is close to zero, does he?

Okay, this is when I explode.

My friends, bear with me. I have no idea how long this thread is going to be.

But let me talk about the cost of creation, and I’m not even going to get into the money aspect of it.

 

The cost of creation is boarding a train which you will never get off for the rest of your life because once you understand what human expression is, you MUST participate no matter what it takes, you MUST find a way to share your stories.

And you must try method after method to do so…

 

And you will spend years learning to draw and then to write and then to take photos and then to act and then your fingers will blister and bleed because maybe this guitar is the tool you need to share your soul with the world, and that blood and sweat will pour from you because you can’t stop…

 

And you will spend your childhood being bullied and taunted because the very fact that you must express yourself despite your shyness and fear makes you seem like an alien to your classmates and you defend yourself by taking shelter in the stories in your mind, and still you are compelled to share those stories somehow, because maybe then they will understand and accept you! And so, as you try and try to express your stories and yourself, everything becomes fuel, and you refuse to let anything leave your mind, because you might need it someday ….

 

And so every experience, every moment, every memory occupies a permanent apartment in your mind, and you have to keep them close at hand for the sake of your art!

Grief must remain. Heartbreak must remain. Shame must remain. Fear must remain. The good and the bad must remain!

Hold to it all…

 

The smell of onions in Grandma’s kitchen. Keep it!

The fear and pain when you cut your thumb deeply at the age of 5. Keep it!

The intoxication of potential love and the shattered heart when it doesn’t work out. Keep it!

The change in Grandpa’s voice as the cancer grows.

Keep it!

 

I could list a thousand things I have kept because someday a story or a song might require what they taught me to feel!

That is the cost of creation!

It is not close to zero!

And there is more!

What else?

 

What is the cost of spending 40 years with a fear of singing in front of anyone and then having to conquer that fear and find a voice as quickly as possible because creation demands it?

And what is the cost of staying up all night after your full time job because creation demands it?

 

And what is the cost in hours spent thinking about the very worst things human beings can do to each other because you feel the need to make songs to hopefully reach the conscience of the world and make the killing stop? That’s part of the cost of creation too!

 

I’m 11 posts into this and I’ve only scratched the surface because the cost of creation, when a person really feels the need to create, is the very life of that artist! Every moment, even if it seems unconnected to art is somehow spent on creation.

It’s all part of it!

And maybe…

 

Maybe I’m making it sound terrible. But it’s not. It’s fulfilling and wonderful and joyous and it really is magic to bring to life a song or a book or anything, but it’s not easy, and anyone who really does it will tell you so!

But the magic isn’t free!

Not even close.

 

So, Mister Spotify Asshole who clearly doesn’t have the slightest clue about anything, DO NOT EVER tell an artist, a writer, a musician, anyone whose life is spent making your world a more magical place, that the cost of creation is close to zero!

You have no fucking idea!