A year ago, France introduced a new streaming tax aimed at boosting its domestic music scene, and the results have been promising. The Centre National de la Musique reports that the tax has helped fund hundreds of music productions and tours, particularly in underfunded genres like classical, chanson, and jazz. With €10 million allocated to these efforts, the program is already making a tangible difference.
The tax applies to major online music streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube, and is calculated as a small percentage of their revenues. While the initiative received strong backing from industry advocates, including music producers, it faced resistance from platforms like Spotify and Deezer, who, as expected, have passed the cost onto users. As a result, Spotify now charges €11.12 per month in France, making it the most expensive in Europe, though just 13 cents more than in Luxembourg. But if this small increase helps fund the creation of soulful French chansons, those 13 cents seem worth it.
