Spotify has shut down the 'Unwrapped' artist royalty calculator following legal threats, a tool that demonstrated the disparity between artist earnings and executive compensation.

The calculator, which allowed users to see how much artists earn from streaming, was removed after pressure from Spotify's legal team. Before removal, it revealed that artists earn approximately $0.003 per stream, requiring division among labels and band members.

Meanwhile, Spotify executives have conducted significant stock sales in 2023-2024:

• Daniel Ek (CEO): $350 million
• Martin Lorentzon (Co-Founder): $550 million
• Gustav Söderström (Chief Product & Technology Officer): $106 million
• Katarina Berg (Chief Human Resources Officer): $38 million
• Alex Norström (Chief Business Officer): $63 million
• Dustee Jenkins (Head of Public Relations): $6 million

Total insider stock sales have reached $1.25 billion in 2024, as Spotify's stock approaches $500 per share and nears a $100 billion market capitalization. This follows major company changes in 2023, including:

• 25% workforce reduction
• Premium subscription price increases across multiple markets
• Accelerated executive stock sales in November and December

The original Unwrapped calculator site now redirects users to the United Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) website, where they can continue advocating for fair artist compensation.

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