Spotify allows fans to directly pay musicians with new in-app fundraising feature

The scheme was launched to help musicians 'support themselves, their bands, or their crews'

(Getty Images for Spotify)

A new feature from Spotify will allow artists to receive direct "tips" or donations to a chosen charity fundraiser from fans during the coronavirus crisis.

Spotify listeners will be able to donate via the “Artist Fundraising Pick”, with the artist choosing whether they wish the proceeds to benefit GoFundMe or directly support them via PayPal or Cash App.

With the live music industry coming to a standstill under the coronavirus pandemic and many artists pushing their album releases back, Spotify explained that they hoped the feature would allow struggling performers to keep creating music during lockdown.

“First and foremost, this feature enables artists who are interested in raising money to support themselves, their bands, or their crews, to get the word out to their fans on their Spotify artist profiles,” a blog post read.

“Given the urgency and impact of the COVID-19 crisis, we’re working as quickly as we can to develop this new product and get it out to as many artists as possible. However, we’ve never built a fundraising feature like this before.”

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They continued: “We consider this a first version that will evolve as we learn how to make it as helpful as possible for the music community.”