Snoop Dogg is a capitalist and a populist, I think. Snoop is also paying close attention to the Writers Strike in Hollywood, and not just because he dips his toe in acting as well (I would imagine he has a SAG card, right?). Snoop is paying attention to the writers strike because of the f–ked up business model of the music industry these days. As streamers have changed the business of Hollywood, so too have streaming services changed the music industry. And just like the writers, musical artists don’t get paid anywhere near what they should. This week, Snoop spoke out in favor of the writers strike and how it relates to the music industry.
Snoop Dogg had some choice words about the “f–ked up” streaming models that have led the Writers Guild of America to go on strike over compensation.
“[Artists] need to figure it out the same way the writers are figuring it out,” Snoop said during a panel on Wednesday with Shirley Halperin, Variety‘s executive music editor, and Gamma’s Larry Jackson, his co-panelist and business partner. “The writers are striking because [of] streaming, they can’t get paid. Because when it’s on the platform, it’s not like in the box office.”
He continued, “I don’t understand how the f–k you get paid off of that sh-t. Somebody explain to me how you can get a billion streams and not get a million dollars?… That’s the main gripe with a lot of us artists is that we do major numbers… but it don’t add up to the money. Like where the f–k is the money?”
Snoop also gave plenty of teasers about his on-screen projects including his role in MGM and Amazon’s upcoming sports comedy film “The Underdoggs,” and his upcoming biopic with Universal Pictures. When asked about unscripted entertainment, Snoop slyly confirmed that’s also in the works. “We slated to get it rocking and rolling… after the strike, I guess,” he said.
Yeah, he’s right. Musical artists, songwriters and music producers should be watching the writers strike and figuring out their next moves too, because (just my opinion) they’re getting screwed over worse than Hollywood writers. These issues have been looming for years now, and it’s crazy that Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and the studios thought they could just keep underpaying their content creators and reaping billions in profits. The thing is, it’s only the “oldheads” like Snoop who can really see how the industry has shifted – I’m not sure the younger musical artists understand how badly they’re being screwed over, honestly.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
- LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 10: Snoop Dogg attends the World Premiere of Netflix’s “Day Shift” at Regal LA Live on August 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.,Image: 713359409, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Snoop Dogg, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon
- NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, USA – AUGUST 28: Snoop Dogg arrives at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards held at the Prudential Center on August 28, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey, United States.,Image: 717368052, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Snoop Dogg, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
- Snoop Dogg on stage at First Direct Arena_Leeds_UK_27_03_23_,Image: 765525460, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Ant Longstaff / Avalon
Completely agree. Also want his shoes very badly. Anybody know they are ? Or are they just special laces
Those look like black Chucks with gold laces.
Look up Kate Gaudet on TikTok and then https://www.soleclean.ca/ or https://angelusdirect.com/
Your shoe life will never be the same. I’ve started customizing all my shoes and its FANTASTIC
Love Snoop. He is all that and always has been.
Exactly
1000% agree. In the meantime I am enjoying the signs of the strikers.
“Pay us or we’ll spoil Succession for you,” “Don’t you want to know how Yellowjackets ends?”
“Without writers I can’t finish this si..” and “They came up with Quibi”
I have no actual knowledge of what I’m about to say. But well before the WGA strike all the streamers were saying they were actually losing money every year on them. Yes the CEO’ and stockholders are getting rich. But the actual business isn’t. That is what is going to have to change. Everyone takes off the top and the business flounders. But that seems to be any company in the U.S.
Robert, I recommend you don’t go by what these companies say with respect to their profits. They’re public companies and you can see the numbers they report to their shareholders. I looked at Netflix’s 10-K, filed with the SEC (because they’re a pure streamer, so the vast majority of their money is attributable to streaming) and I noticed a few things.
One, their liquid cash/cash equivalent is about 6ish billion but they’re carrying nearly 15 billion in long and short term debt. They could very likely be structuring their business to depend on debt, rather than equity. This would make them look not profitable, but that’s just the presentation of things.
Two, Netflix has retained earnings of 17 billion. That means that, after paying aaaaaaaaaall of their costs, Netflix has 17 billion to divvy up. They can pay the writers more, but they choose to plead poverty because the average person doesn’t understand how to read a corporate financial statement.
As he gets older I’m loving Snoop more and more! He even made comments about a Canadian hockey player who is an amazing athlete but not known outside of Canada, and wanting to buy the Ottawa Senators and being an activist in Ottawa. Go Snoop!
As someone in music songwriting to be exact it is brutal, and if even Snoop is saying it then it’s at an all time mess level. He is in the top 10% of artist and like Taylor swift etc may actually be in a position to negotiate a real fee. We don’t have an effective union fighting for us. I have a few songs with a million plus streams the most I have made is like $5000 usd. Which if those streams were people downloading and paying the dollar well it would be a much different story. We have been hit hard even worse than screen writers to be honest.