Streaming Services' Royalties Calculator
Calculate royalties from music streaming services. Estimate earnings based on number of streams and platform rates.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter number of streams.
- Select streaming platform (or enter custom rate).
- The calculator displays total royalties and per-stream rate.
- Use this to estimate earnings from music streaming.
Streaming Royalties Formula
Royalties are calculated from streams and platform rates:
Platform Rates (approximate):
Spotify: $0.0033
Apple Music: $0.007
Amazon Music: $0.004
YouTube Music: $0.00069
Tidal: $0.0125
Deezer: $0.0064
Example: 100,000 streams on Spotify: Royalties = 100,000 × $0.0033 = $330. On Apple Music: 100,000 × $0.007 = $700. Rates vary by country, subscription tier, and label deals. Artists typically receive 10-50% of these rates after label/distributor cuts.
Full Description
The Streaming Services Royalties Calculator estimates earnings from music streaming based on number of streams and platform rates. Streaming has become the primary revenue source for music, but per-stream rates are very low. Understanding streaming royalties helps artists estimate earnings and plan their careers. Different platforms pay different rates, and actual earnings depend on label deals, geographic location, and subscription tiers.
Platform rates vary significantly: Spotify pays ~$0.0033 per stream, Apple Music ~$0.007, Tidal ~$0.0125, while YouTube Music pays only ~$0.00069. These are average rates—actual rates vary by country, subscription tier (premium pays more than free), and label/distributor deals. Artists typically receive 10-50% of these rates after label and distributor cuts. Most artists earn very little from streaming alone and rely on live shows, merch, and other revenue streams.
This calculator helps you estimate streaming royalties. Enter streams and platform, and it calculates total royalties and per-stream rate. Use it to understand streaming economics, estimate earnings, compare platforms, or plan music releases. Remember, these are estimates—actual earnings vary based on many factors!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do artists earn per stream?
Rates vary by platform: Spotify ~$0.0033, Apple Music ~$0.007, Amazon Music ~$0.004, YouTube Music ~$0.00069, Tidal ~$0.0125, Deezer ~$0.0064. These are average rates—actual rates vary by country, subscription tier, and label deals. Artists typically receive 10-50% of these rates after label/distributor cuts.
Why are rates so low?
Streaming platforms pay labels/distributors, who then pay artists. Labels take 50-90% of revenue. Free tier streams pay less than premium. Geographic location affects rates (US/UK pay more). Platform business models prioritize subscriber growth over per-stream payouts. Most artists earn very little from streaming alone.
How many streams equal one album sale?
Roughly 1,500-2,000 streams = 1 album sale in revenue. Example: 1,500 Spotify streams × $0.0033 = $4.95 (similar to album sale). However, this varies by platform and subscription tier. Streaming has replaced album sales as the primary revenue source, but per-stream revenue is much lower.
Can I increase my streaming revenue?
Ways to increase revenue: Get on playlists (more streams), focus on premium platforms (higher rates), build fanbase (more streams), release consistently (maintain momentum), use multiple platforms (diversify), and consider direct-to-fan sales (higher margins). Most successful artists combine streaming with live shows, merch, and other revenue.