Streaming services do not pay a fixed price per play. Most use a pro-rata model: each month a share of subscription and advertising revenue (roughly two thirds) goes into a pool, which is divided by each rights holder’s share of all streams in that market. The resulting “per-stream rate” therefore changes with the country of the listener, free versus premium accounts, the month and the service. Spotify, for instance, says it does not pay per stream at all – but dividing payouts by streams gives a useful average.
The rates in this calculator are estimates compiled from industry reports: roughly $0.003–0.005 for Spotify, $0.007–0.01 for Apple Music and $0.01–0.013 for TIDAL. They are ranges, not promises; your distributor’s statements are the only exact figures. Use the range to see the likely spread, and a custom rate if you know your own.
The money is also split before it reaches the artist. Independent artists using a distributor usually keep 80–100% of the recording payout; signed artists often receive 15–25% after the label’s share, and songwriting royalties are paid separately to publishers and collecting societies.
How to use the Streaming Royalties Calculator
- Streaming service
- Your rate per stream (US$)
- I know
- Number of streams
- Total listening time
- Average song length
- Your share of the payout (independent ≈ 85–100%, label deal ≈ 15–25%)
- Income goal for your share (US$, 0 = skip)
Everything is calculated in your browser, so results appear instantly and nothing you type is sent to a server.
How it works
Enter streams directly, or listening time and an average track length to convert to streams. The calculator multiplies by the low, mid and high rate estimate for the platform, applies your share, and lists the same streams on every platform for comparison.
Worked example
100,000 Spotify streams at $0.003–0.005 per stream earn $300–500, mid estimate $400. An independent artist keeping 100% gets about $400; reaching $1,000 takes 250,000 streams. The same plays on TIDAL would earn about $1,150 (mid $0.0115).
Rates used (estimates)
| Service | Estimated US$ per stream | Per 1,000 streams (mid) |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | $0.003–0.005 | $4.00 |
| Apple Music | $0.007–0.01 | $8.50 |
| Amazon Music | $0.004–0.005 | $4.50 |
| YouTube Music | $0.0006–0.008 | $4.30 |
| TIDAL | $0.01–0.013 | $11.50 |
| Deezer | $0.004–0.0064 | $5.20 |
| Pandora | ≈ $0.0013 | $1.30 |
| Napster | $0.019–0.021 | $20.00 |
| SoundCloud | $0.0025–0.004 | $3.25 |
Ranges combine the RouteNote (May 2025) and J. Scalco (April 2026) estimates; they are approximate and change over time. YouTube Music estimates disagree widely between sources.
Formula
Payout ≈ streams × average rate per stream · your share = payout × your split · streams from listening time = time ÷ average song length · streams needed = income goal ÷ (rate × your share)
Worked example
Inputs — Streaming service: Spotify ($0.003–0.005); I know: Number of streams; Number of streams: 100,000; Your share of the payout (independent ≈ 85–100%, label deal ≈ 15–25%): 100 %; Income goal for your share (US$, 0 = skip): 1,000.
Results — Streams = 100,000; Estimated payout (mid estimate) = $400; Low estimate = $300; High estimate = $500; Your share (mid estimate) = $400; Rate per stream used (mid) = $0.004.
Key terms
- Per-stream rate
- Average payout divided by the number of streams – an estimate, not a fixed price.
- Pro-rata model
- Revenue pool shared by each rights holder's share of total streams.
- Master royalties
- Payments for the sound recording, collected by the label or distributor.
- Distributor
- A service that delivers independent music to streaming platforms and passes on the payouts.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Spotify pay per stream?
About $0.003–$0.005 on average (estimates from 2025–2026), so 1,000 streams earn roughly $3–5 for the rights holder.
Which streaming service pays the most per stream?
Among large services, TIDAL (≈ $0.01–0.013) and Apple Music (≈ $0.007–0.01) pay more per stream than Spotify; Napster has reported about $0.02 but with far fewer listeners.
How many streams do I need to earn $1,000?
At Spotify's mid estimate of $0.004 and a 100% share, 250,000 streams; with a 20% label share, 1.25 million.
Why do my royalties differ from these numbers?
Rates depend on listener country, free versus premium accounts, the month's revenue pool and your distributor's cut. These are averages, not guaranteed rates.
Does Spotify really pay per stream?
No – it pays rights holders a share of revenue in proportion to their share of streams. Since 2024 tracks need at least 1,000 streams in 12 months to earn recorded royalties.
Are songwriting royalties included?
No. These figures are for the master (recording) side; publishing and performance royalties are paid separately.