Max Marshall returns to streaming platforms after 18-month hiatus [Media Release]

Max Marshall is the newest addition to the Soul City Music Co-op roster, and this past week, we sent out our first media release about him, announcing that, since joining the co-op, he has decided to return his to digital streaming platforms and social media after a long hiatus! Read on to learn more about what inspired his initial decision to take down his music, and the reason why he’s coming back, in a media release crafted by yours truly! - Crissi

Max Marshall (Photo by Travis Latam)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Max Marshall returns to streaming platforms after 18-month hiatus

Essex County's folk titan Max Marshall begins re-releasing his catalogue on all streaming platforms

Windsor, Ontario, CANADA (Friday, May 7, 2021)– After withdrawing his repertoire from streaming platforms in late 2019, Essex County finger-style guitarist Max Marshall has made the decision to return to the digital landscape, re-releasing cuts from his catalogue.

“I took myself off of all streaming platforms as a way of rejecting their mistreatment of the musicians they profit off of,” explains Max. Streaming royalties have been the subject of widespread criticism in recent years, with most platforms paying fractions of a cent per stream. On Spotify, where artists can expect to receive $0.004 per listen, it takes an average of 250 streams – the rough equivalent of 12.5 hours of music – to earn a dollar.

With the COVID-19 pandemic shifting musicians' attentions away from touring and in-person performances, Max has re-evaluated his relationship with streaming platforms. “Now, I believe the right place to put pressure is to use the platform, and lobby for higher earnings.”

As controversial as the platforms are, in his heart Max does see their value, as more and more music listeners are changing their habits to consume music from streaming platforms. “I love the idea of friends and fans having access to my material during their day-to-day.”

In this digital re-launch, Max is excited to engage through social media and streaming platforms to help people who are curious about his music. “It's all about connectivity, and Soul City Music Co-op has given me the boost that I need to better understand how to connect with my fans.”

In addition to rejoining Twitter (@_maxmarshall_) and creating a YouTube channel, Max will be re-releasing his 2017 albumSongs From A Little Green House on all streaming services, as well as “Everything they know about you”, the first single off his upcoming album. Fans can expect more releases to be added throughout the year.

“While being on music streaming platforms is an important part of getting your music to more listeners, we also see the dire need to lobby for higher royalty payouts, and end the exploitation and poverty that’s devastating our artistic communities,” explains Mike Hargreaves, the founder of Soul City Music Co-op, the region's first musician-owned music label which signed Max Marshall to its roster in March. The co-op aims to combat lost wages through unique release strategies, solidarity unionizing, participating in open dialogues about the toll of streaming on artists, and providing more financially meaningful ways for music listeners to support artists.

Max Marshall's albumSongs From A Little Green House and his 2021 single “Everything They Know About You”, presented in partnership with Soul City Music Co-op, are available now on all streaming platforms and at maxmarshall.org.


About Max Marshall
From Essex County, the southernmost point of Canada, finger-style guitarist Max Marshall has a passion for crafting songs out of the stories from the vast palate of the Canadian folk identity. With country, blues, and ragtime influences, he delivers a heartfelt, personal performance style that extends from soft introspection to frenzied, bluesy interpretations, featuring a largely underexposed style of acoustic guitar.
www.maxmarshall.org
www.instagram.com/_maxmarshall_
www.facebook.com/MaxMarshallsMusic
www.twitter.com/_maxmarshall_
maxmarshall.bandcamp.com

About Soul City Music Co-op
Launched on January 1st, 2020, the Soul City Music Co-op is not your traditional music label. Co-founded by Windsor singer-songwriters Mike Hargreaves and Crissi Cochrane, the label takes no percentage of its artists' earnings or rights, and instead fosters sustainable self-managed music careers through mentorship, solidarity, and skill-sharing. The label features a small but growing roster of Windsor artists – Ayola, The Bishop Boys, Brendan Scott Friel, Crissi Cochrane, Dane Roberts, Madeline Doornaert, Max Marshall, Soul Brother Mike, and The Family Soul.
www.soulcitymusiccoop.com