Billionaire American rapper Kanye West has confirmed that his new album will not be available on major streaming platforms, but only on an internet-connected device that can be purchased, in a move aimed at expressing a stance against what he called the “repression” of the music industry.
In an Instagram post, the 44-year-old businessman, known for his eccentricities and mood swings, announced that his fans could listen to several musical elements from his upcoming album “Donda 2” – vocals, music, drums and bass – on a device in the form of a small internet-connected speaker that it dubbed “Stem Player”, will be available starting tomorrow at a price of $200.
The billionaire noted in his post that “tech companies have made music almost free, so if (the singer) doesn’t sell sneakers and run tours, he can’t afford his food.”
He explained that “artists today receive only 12% of the money earned by the music industry.” He believed that “the time has come to liberate music from this system of oppression,” calling on his colleagues to “take over and build their own system.” “No one can pay me for disrespect,” said Kanye West, who recently changed his name to Yee by court order. We put our own price on our art.”