James Blake speaks out against social media platforms and ticketing monopolies

Grammy-winning artist James Blake called out what he described as the exploitation of artists by monopolistic ticketing companies and social media platforms. In an Instagram post, Blake expressed his concerns over how artists and fans are increasingly being separated by digital bottlenecks and restrictive algorithms.

“This is a thing me and other artists have been noticing for a long time, not just today,” Blake wrote, addressing the limitations of reaching his followers on social media. Despite having 700,000 followers, he noted that only around 3,000 of them saw his recent stories about upcoming shows. “Why can’t I promote a show to people who follow me? How else am I supposed to let people know I’m playing?” he questioned.

The British musician also criticised platforms for what he termed “algorithm bottlenecking,” saying that it has left him and other artists struggling to maintain direct communication with their fans. “Every show I’ve ever done for 13 years, a company has taken the ‘data’—i.e., email addresses and phone numbers of my fans. I didn’t know how important that was at the time,” he lamented.

The artist also turned his attention to the challenges within the live music sector, where rising costs and hidden fees make it harder for artists to sustain their careers through touring. “I refuse to subject my fans to the ridiculous amounts of unexplainable hidden fees they have to pay to come see me live,” he declared, expressing his frustration with the opaque nature of ticketing deals. “There are more than we even know about, buried in countless deals we artists never see, padding out the bill you pay and making touring too expensive for upcoming artists.”

Blake also highlighted the significant impact on live music professionals, noting that “everyone who actually works on the show can be squeezed until a career in live music—being a rigger, tech, sound, lighting, producer, or tour manager—is harder and harder to justify as a career path.”

The musician urged his peers to explore alternative platforms like Bandcamp and Vault.fm, which prioritise artist rights and data ownership. “Having an Instagram following means nothing anymore if you can’t reach your fans,” he said. Instead, he is shifting his efforts to platforms that allow artists to control their own data, such as Bandcamp, where artists can sell music and merchandise directly to their audience, and Vault.fm, which focuses on ensuring artists have direct access to fan information.

Blake’s comments reflect a broader discontent within the artist community as they grapple with the current state of the live music industry and the limitations imposed by social media giants. As he embarks “on the long road of reconnecting” with his fans, he hopes other artists will follow suit before the current model makes touring unsustainable for most.