Across the country, musicians and artists are struggling to make ends meet while streaming services and record labels are seeing record profits.

Streaming now represents 84% of recorded music industry’s revenue in the US, but most of the artists who bring joy to our lives and culture aren’t seeing any of it.

Spotify, the world’s largest streaming service, pays artists an average per-stream royalty of $0.003, which means it takes artists more than 800,000 monthly streams to equal a full-time $15/hour job.

In partnership with United Musicians and Allied Workers and local and national artists, Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Jamaal Bowman introduced the Living Wage for Musicians Act to fix this disparity and ensure streaming services compensate musicians more fairly.

This legislation would pass streaming services’ taxed revenues and royalties to a non-profit collection and distribution fund, which would aim to pay artists at least one penny per stream (rather than fractions of a penny under the current system).

Every time their music is listened to on a streaming music service, like Spotify, musicians would get compensated with a fairer royalty payment for their labor. This will help more artists achieve a living wage from music—enabling them to pay rent, raise a family, buy a home, and invest in their future.

If passed, the Living Wage for Musicians Act will reform the music industry by supporting more diverse and independent artists. Additional income will also enable artists to record more music and tour more extensively, injecting more money into local economies.

It’s only right that the people who create the music we love get their fair share, so that they can thrive, not just survive. We all deserve to make a wage that truly values the work we put in for ourselves and our families.

Please show your support by signing on today to become a grassroots co-sponsor of the new Living Wage for Musicians Act.