Snoop Dogg Walks Away from Spotify, Embraces Web3 with Tune.FM

Snoop Dogg has never been afraid to shake things up, and his latest move proves just that. The hip-hop mogul and tech-savvy entrepreneur has announced his departure from Spotify in favor of blockchain-based streaming service Tune.FM, a decentralized platform that claims to pay artists significantly more than traditional streaming services. With this bold transition, Snoop becomes the face of Web3 music streaming, pushing the industry toward a new digital frontier.

The Breakup with Spotify

The rift between Snoop Dogg and Spotify has been building for some time. Last year, the legendary rapper publicly criticized the streaming giant's payment structure, claiming he earned less than $45,000 for over a billion streams. The numbers were shocking to many, including fellow artists and fans who have long questioned how streaming platforms distribute revenue.

Spotify quickly pushed back on Snoop’s claim, stating that a billion streams typically generate "millions of dollars to rights holders." The company suggested that if Snoop wasn’t receiving those millions, the issue might lie within his label’s payment structures rather than Spotify itself. But for Snoop, the message was clear—he wanted out.

“I don’t f*** with Spotify anymore, I’m only on Tune.FM,” Snoop declared in a statement to Billboard.

The Web3 Pivot: Snoop and Tune.FM

Snoop’s move to Tune.FM isn’t just about money—it’s about control. Unlike Spotify, which pays artists months after streams occur and filters payments through multiple layers of rights holders, Tune.FM offers instant, per-second micropayments in its proprietary cryptocurrency, JAM. The platform, built on the Hedera Hashgraph network, claims to pay artists up to 90% of streaming revenue—compared to Spotify’s reported 70%, which is split among labels, publishers, and other stakeholders.

Beyond better payouts, Tune.FM’s Web3 model empowers artists to tokenize their music, sell digital collectibles, and engage with fans through NFTs and direct monetization tools. Snoop, who has been a vocal supporter of blockchain and NFT music since acquiring Death Row Records, sees this as the future.

“Snoop is the OG pioneer who is always on the cutting edge of technology and new ways of doing business,” said Andrew Antar, Tune.FM’s founder and CEO. “He totally gets it, and we are ready to take on the world together.”

What This Means for Snoop’s Music

Snoop’s catalog, including classic Death Row releases, is still available on Spotify—for now. However, sources close to the rapper indicate that more of his music will likely migrate to Tune.FM over time, following the exclusive release of his new single, Spaceship Party, on the platform.

The move also fits into a broader trend of artists looking for alternatives to traditional streaming models. Last year, Snoop pulled Death Row Records’ catalog from major platforms, only to later re-release it through TikTok’s independent distribution platform, SoundOn. The shift toward blockchain-based streaming aligns with his broader vision of making Death Row the first major label in the metaverse.

“Death Row will be an NFT label,” Snoop said in a 2022 interview. “We will be putting out artists through the metaverse and a whole ‘nother chain of music.”

The Industry Reacts

Snoop’s announcement has sparked conversations across the music industry, with many wondering if other high-profile artists will follow suit. Independent artists, in particular, have been vocal about low streaming payouts, and Web3 platforms like Tune.FM offer an alternative that promises greater financial rewards and direct artist-to-fan engagement.

Podcaster and hip-hop commentator Curtiss King weighed in on the situation, expressing skepticism about both Spotify and Web3 platforms. “Artists have been complaining about Spotify for years, but not really doing anything about it,” he said. “Snoop’s move is interesting, but people are already having technical issues with Tune.FM. If they’re gonna bring in big names, they gotta get their act together.”

Beyond Snoop, the debate over fair artist compensation has gained momentum. In the UK, over 1,000 musicians recently protested government proposals to allow AI companies to train their models using copyrighted music without a license. Simultaneously, Spotify has faced backlash over its new terms allowing user-generated remixes, raising concerns about AI-generated music devaluing the work of real artists.

The Future of Streaming?

Snoop Dogg’s move to Tune.FM could be a game-changer, signaling a shift in how artists distribute their music. As Web3 platforms develop, they have the potential to disrupt the traditional music industry in the same way streaming initially did to physical sales and downloads.

For independent artists, Tune.FM’s model offers a glimpse of a future where musicians can earn directly from their work without intermediaries taking massive cuts. For major artists like Snoop, it represents a chance to lead the charge toward artist empowerment in the digital age.

Whether Tune.FM can deliver on its promises remains to be seen. Technical issues, user adoption, and major label resistance could pose significant hurdles. But one thing is clear: Snoop Dogg has never been one to follow industry norms—he sets them. And with this move, he’s once again making history.

As The Wave continues to embrace the Web3 evolution, we’re excited to see how this new frontier empowers both artists and fans. Our own initiatives in blockchain-based content distribution and NFT-powered artist collaborations reflect a shared vision of a more transparent and artist-friendly music ecosystem. Stay tuned as we roll out our own Web3 features, giving creatives more control and ownership over their work.