Presto Fair Play is a bold initiative proving that at least one streaming service values musicians and composers as artists and not merely content creators.

The specialist streaming service's Fair Play initiative sees it paying up to 10 times more than other streaming services, as it pays by the second of play rather than per track. Presto believes poor and unreliable payments threaten classical musicians and composers in particular, calling the industry to step up accordingly.

Offering 200,000 albums, many in high-resolution audio, Presto subscribers can stream online or offline via desktop, mobile apps, or BluOS-supported devices and enjoy curated guides and daily expert features.

Since launching its streaming service in 2023, it has held firm that paying rightsholders per second (rather than per play) means that Presto often pays up to ten times more than other major streaming services. Eighteen months later, according to data from specific albums, the company appears to be good to its word.

Presto Music's Chief Executive, Chris O'Reilly, told StereoNET:

We've picked a few prominent recent releases to demonstrate this here. As payments from services to labels are not based on specific 'per play' rates (but instead calculated according to total streams and total revenue each month), there is limited data as to exactly 'who pays what' in the public domain.

O'Reilly notes that these music services offer multiple streaming plans, some of which include ad-funded options. Meanwhile, most have student and family plans, and all charge different prices in different countries, the 'average' he is demonstrating "is exactly that".

The other thing to bear in mind when interpreting this data is to remember who is being paid here. This represents payments from streaming services to record labels. How much of that money then gets passed on to artists will depend on the agreements between artists and labels and will often vary on a case-by-case basis, depending on factors such as who paid for the original recording. Composers are paid separately, and classical ones typically suffer from similar, deeply unsatisfactory payment models.

Finally, O'Reilly states:

This data also makes plain just how unfair the 'pay per play' model is when it comes to a big chunk of classical repertoire - especially orchestral music (which is also typically expensive to record). To ensure the future viability of our industry it needs to pay fairly. We're doing that and hope that in time, others will start doing so as well.

Presto Music's streaming plans start from £10.99 per month, with a 30-day free trial available for new users. Flexible options allow integration with music downloads for those seeking a comprehensive listening experience.

Visit Presto Music for more information