Kanye West Is Taking Profits On His Music Away From Streaming and Record Executives… and So Far It’s Working

The rollout for Kanye West’s new album, Donda 2, is yet another bout headline-grabbing excess that everyone has come to expect from the singer/rapper/producer. Ye’s record from last year, Donda, took up multiple weeks of news with online listening parties, release date drama, and controversy for its inclusion of DaBaby, Marilyn Manson, and Chris Brown (though he eventually removed the vocals from Brown). On February 22, 2022, fans can enjoy his new album’s release live in Miami or at theaters nationwide. Check below if your city is streaming the IMAX release!

One of the biggest stories surrounding Donda 2 is that Ye will not be streaming the album on any platform and instead tells fans that they must listen only on his Stem Player service, with each purchase costing $200 plus shipping. Though not streaming an album nowadays would mean financial ruin for any other artist, Ye has already reported the preorder profits to exceed expectations. The most recent statements claim that he has made $2,000,000 on the stem players, equaling 500 million plays on streaming services. This act of turning down streaming deals comes after complaints about the payment of artists from streaming services, and his success in overcoming the usual channels will likely inspire other artists to follow.

If you’re a fan living in or near Miami, you cannot miss out on the live event at LoanDepot Park on February 22, 2022, at 8 PM. Here are the cities that are showing the event in IMAX:

• Leawood, Kansas

• New York, New York

• Atlanta, Georgia

• Chicago, Illinois

• Houston, Texas

• King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

• Westlake, Ohio

• San Diego, California

• Los Angeles, California

• Livonia, Michigan

• Westminster, Colorado

• Dallas, Texas

• Washington, D.C.

• Las Vegas, Nevada

• San Francisco, California

Tickets for both events are available online. Prices for the Donda 2 experience range from around $30 for the IMAX tickets to over $1000 for the live event.