In an era where music drives trends, sells products, and fuels digital culture, one producer is speaking up about the harsh reality behind the scenes.
Thousand Times, a rising music producer whose work has become a staple in viral TikTok content, is calling out the platform for what he calls the blatant devaluation of music. In the past 30 days alone, 444 creators have used his music in their videos — racking up over 10.7 million views. The result? A payout of just $2.75.
His instrumental “Taco Tuesday” has become a go-to sound for restaurants advertising their dishes, and his tracks are used in everything from gender reveals to dance challenges. While his music helps generate engagement and revenue for businesses and content creators, the producer himself is left with pennies — if that.
“We live in an age where music is completely devalued,” Thousand Times says. “I just don’t see why paying a decent amount per play is such a foreign idea to these companies.”
The producer, like many others in the independent music space, is frustrated by the disconnect between the value music brings to content and the lack of compensation for the creators behind it.
“It’s time these social media companies recognize how wrong it is that businesses are marketing their goods — making good money — using our music, and we don’t even get a penny per play,” he continues.
As conversations around fair pay for creators continue to grow louder, Thousand Times’ story serves as a reminder of how essential music is to the internet economy — and how underappreciated the artists behind it often are.
Follow Thousand Times on Instagram: @_thousandtimes
Stream his latest release: Go For It
