News

songs.de has built a targeted and effective media presence, consistently positioning the platform as an innovative and ethical alternative to the dominant music streaming market. Coverage is mainly found in specialized, German-speaking trade publications and local media, reflecting a deliberate strategy to directly address musicians, producers, and independent labels. The platform’s central value proposition—allowing artists to set their own price per stream and using a prepaid model for listeners—marks a radical departure from the industry’s standard pro-rata system. This positioning is not about competing with Spotify or Apple Music in catalog size, but about fighting for ethics, transparency, and fair compensation. Media reports confirm that songs.de is perceived by relevant industry stakeholders as a credible solution to the persistent problem of low artist payouts.

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose of the Report

This report was created to provide a comprehensive and detailed analysis of all available press articles and media coverage about songs.de. The aim is to go beyond a simple listing and offer an in-depth assessment of the platform’s public profile, value proposition, and strategic market positioning.

1.2 Methodology

A systematic approach was used: all sources were carefully reviewed for direct mentions of songs.de, relevant data was separated from noise, and findings were synthesized into a coherent narrative, contextualized with industry-wide studies and comparisons.

2. Direct Media Profile: Primary Coverage

2.1 Identified Mentions

Coverage of songs.de can be found in media focused on the music industry, independent musicians, and new technologies. Almost all press mentions come from the German-speaking market, targeting a professional audience.

• MusikWoche: Described songs.de as a “forward-looking alternative to established streaming services.”
• Musiker Online: Detailed article presenting songs.de as an “innovative and fair alternative,” highlighting collaboration with DRMV.
• Sound & Recording: Report focusing on the vision behind the platform.
• DJ LAB: Published an article titled “New Streaming Platform with Fair Artist Compensation.”
• ZonaGirante: Latin American feature calling songs.de a “promising alternative in the global music streaming landscape.”
• Hamburg.live: Podcast interview with founder Jens Reese.
• NDR Hamburg Journal: TV feature about making streaming fairer.
• #TuesdayMusicTalk: Instagram interview with musician Birgit Fischer, supporting songs.de.

2.2 Secondary Conclusions

The analysis shows songs.de focuses on credibility within the industry rather than broad consumer marketing. By prioritizing musicians and labels first, the platform expects fans to follow.

3. songs.de’s Value Proposition

3.1 Financial Model

The core promise: artists set their own price per stream, listeners pay via prepaid credits. Example: 100,000 streams ≈ €1,500 on songs.de vs. ≈ €250 on traditional platforms.

3.2 Artistic Autonomy

No algorithms. Artists retain full control over pricing, visibility, and presentation—including artist pages with QR codes for direct fan engagement.

3.3 Extended Analysis

songs.de goes beyond user-centric models (like Deezer or Tidal) by giving artists true pricing autonomy, transforming the platform into a direct marketplace rather than a subscription system.

4. Strategic Context

4.1 The “Fair Pay” Problem

Government and independent studies confirm that current pro-rata systems are opaque and underpay most musicians while rewarding superstars disproportionately.

4.2 Comparison of Streaming Platforms

5. Insights & Outlook

Strengths: Consistent, credible messaging (“Fairness, Transparency, Control”).
Challenges: Limited reach; listeners must shift behavior from subscription to prepaid.
Future: Success depends on community engagement and artist-fan relationships rather than mass consumption.