Spotify Royalty Calculator
Calculate how much Spotify pays per stream in 2026 — adjusted for your geography, distributor, and deal splits.
Rates updated: February 2026
Your Estimated Monthly Earnings
$30.00 – $50.00
Yearly Projection: $360.00 – $600.00
Per-Stream Rate
$0.0030 – $0.0050
After Distributor
$30.00 – $50.00
After Deal Split
$30.00 – $50.00
How Do Other Platforms Compare?
Same stream count across 6 major platforms
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Connect Spotify in NotNoise Music Stats to see your actual per-stream rate, geographic breakdown, and growth trends.
Get started freeHow Spotify Pays Artists
Understanding the streamshare model and what affects your royalties.
The Streamshare Model
Spotify doesn't pay a fixed rate per stream. Instead, it pools all subscription and advertising revenue each month, then distributes it proportionally based on each artist's share of total streams. This "streamshare" model means your per-stream rate fluctuates monthly.
Why Geography Matters
A stream from a US Premium subscriber generates roughly 3-4x more revenue than a stream from a Free-tier listener in Latin America or Southeast Asia. This is because subscription prices and ad rates vary dramatically by country. An artist with a primarily US/UK audience will see significantly higher per-stream rates.
Premium vs. Free Listeners
Spotify Premium subscribers pay $10.99/month, and a portion of that goes into the royalty pool. Free-tier listeners generate revenue only from ads, which pays substantially less. Artists whose audience skews Premium typically earn 1.5-2x more per stream than those with mostly Free listeners.
The 1,000-Stream Minimum
Starting in 2024, Spotify requires a track to accumulate at least 1,000 streams per year to generate royalties. Tracks below this threshold earn nothing. This policy redirects micro-royalties from low-activity tracks to more-streamed content.
Your Distributor's Role
Spotify pays distributors, not artists directly. Your distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, etc.) collects your royalties and passes them to you — sometimes minus a commission. Most modern distributors pass through 100% and charge a flat annual fee instead, but CD Baby takes a 9% cut of all royalties.
12-Month Growth Projection
Projected earnings assuming 10% monthly stream growth. Conservative, projected, and optimistic scenarios.
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Get started freeDistributor Comparison
How much you keep after each distributor based on your current estimated earnings.
DistroKid
Flat fee, unlimited releases
You keep
$40.00/mo
TuneCore
Flat fee per release
You keep
$40.00/mo
CD Baby
One-time fee + 9% commission
You keep
$36.40/mo
Amuse
Freemium, keep 100%
You keep
$40.00/mo
Ditto Music
Flat fee, keep 100%
You keep
$40.00/mo
How Much Does Spotify Pay?
Estimated earnings at Spotify's global average rate, before distributor fees or label splits.
| Streams | Low | Average | High | Equivalent To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1K | $3 | $4 | $5 | A cup of coffee |
| 10K | $30 | $40 | $50 | A grocery trip |
| 100K | $300 | $400 | $500 | A used guitar |
| 500K | $1,500 | $2,000 | $2,500 | One month's rent (US avg) |
| 1M | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 | A used car payment |
| 10M | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | A year's modest salary |
| 100M | $300,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 | A house down payment |
Based on Spotify's global average rate of $0.003–$0.005 per stream. Actual earnings vary by geography, listener type, and royalty period.
“I finally understood why my royalties vary so much month to month. The geography breakdown was eye-opening.”
Jordan P. · Singer-Songwriter
“Used this to compare distributors before signing up. Saved me from picking one that takes a 9% cut.”
Mia L. · Electronic Producer
“Shared the link with my band so everyone could see projected earnings. Super useful for planning.”
Carlos R. · Indie Rock Band
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Spotify royalties.
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