After starting to release songs on Spotify that actually got a half-decent amount of streams, I wanted to know how much Spotify pays per stream, so I researched it and wrote about it here for you.
Spotify pays artists between $0.00331 and $0.00437 per stream on average. Stream rates depend on what location the stream came from and whether the stream came from a Free or Premium user.
The Spotify royalty pay rate can fluctuate depending on where in the world the stream happened and whether or not the user is a premium user. Also, your pay rate may vary if you collaborated with another artist, label, or partner.
To learn all the ins and outs of how Spotify pays its artists and how you can maximize your streams and Spotify royalties, simply read on, my friend. 🙂
How Much Does Spotify Pay Per Stream in 2023
Spotify pays up to $0.00437 per stream in 2023. However, Spotify can pay as low as $0.00331 per stream depending on who streams the song.
Here are some common payouts that you can expect:
| # of streams | Average $ | Min $ | Max $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.004 USD | $0.00331 USD | $0.00437 USD |
| 1,000 | $4 USD | $3.31 USD | $4.37 USD |
| 10,000 | $40 USD | $33.10 USD | $43.70 USD |
| 1,000,000 | $4,000 USD | $3,310 USD | $4,370 USD |
There are actually a lot of factors that can go into how much Spotify decides to pay you.
These include:
- Where in the world the stream came from.
- Whether the stream was from a premium or free Spotify user.
- If the stream was from a playlist with bots, click farms, and deactivated accounts.
Here is how much Spotify pays for common numbers. Have a look to see how much you stand to make from Spotify or use the best Spotify royalty calculator to calculate a specific number.
How much does Spotify pay for 1 million streams?
Spotify pays $4,000 USD for 1 million streams. However, this number is an average, and Spotify could pay as low as $3,310 USD and as much as $4,370 USD depending on who streams the song.
How much does Spotify pay for 10,000 streams?
Spotify pays $40 USD for 10,000 streams. However, this number is an average, and Spotify could pay as low as $33.10 USD and as much as $43.70 USD depending on who streams the song.
How much does Spotify pay for 1000 streams?
Spotify pays $4 USD for 1,000 streams. However, this number is an average, and Spotify could pay as low as $3.31 USD and as much as $4.37 USD depending on who streams the song.
As you can see, there is a pretty big range in what Spotify pays out to it’s artists. But, if there is a range when it comes to Spotify royalty payments, how can you find out how much you are owed?
Great question!
Let’s explore this. 🙂
How To Maximize Your Spotify Royalties & Pay From Spotify
Although Spotify keeps a lot of its secrets close to its chest, there are a variety of well-known factors that can influence higher or lower Spotify pay rates.
These factors influence a HIGHER Spotify pay rate
These factors are known to influence higher Spotify pay rates:
- Streams from higher-income countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, etc.
- Streams from Spotify Premium users.
Naturally, it may be harder to make sure you get streams from Spotify Premium users, but you can use the knowledge of how Spotify treats geographies when creating your playlisting, Facebook/Instagram ads, and general music marketing strategy.
These factors influence a LOWER Spotify pay rate
These factors are known to influence lower Spotify pay rates:
- Streams from lower-income countries like Mexico, the Philippines, India, etc.
- Streams from free Spotify users.
- Streams from playlists with bots, click farms, and deactivated accounts.
When crafting your Spotify marketing strategy, be sure to avoid trying to get on phony playlists and targeting lower-income countries with your Facebook, Instagram, and Google ads.
The 3 steps to getting higher Spotify pay rates
If you are looking for the top 3 things you can do today to make sure you get the highest Spotify pay rate possible, here they are:
- Avoid getting your music placed on phony playlists. Do your research first to make sure any playlist you get added to is legit.
- Focus your marketing efforts on higher-income countries. Target your ads to these countries and try to get on playlists based in these countries.
- Avoid marketing in lower-income countries. Don’t target ads to these countries and avoid getting on playlists based in these countries.
Follow these 3 steps and you should be well on your way to making sure you maximize your Spotify royalties and payments. 🙂
FAQ / Related Questions
Here are some questions that are related to how much Spotify pays per stream, as well as some additional information about Spotify and how it calculates individual streams.
How much does Spotify pay per stream calculator
The best Spotify stream calculator is the Spotify Royalty Calculator by Best Friends Club. This is because it has the simplest design and also includes additional information on how to grow your Spotify streams.
How are plays calculated on Spotify?
Spotify counts a single stream of a song when that song has been listened to for 30 seconds or more. Once the song hits the 30-second mark, a stream is counted in Spotify’s system.
Does Spotify count streams on repeat in 2020?
In 2020, Spotify counts 1 stream when the song has been listened to for 30 seconds or more, regardless of what song was played before. If you listen to a song for 30 seconds and then listen to it again for 30 seconds, that will be counted as 2 streams.
Do Spotify streams count on mute?
Spotify does not count streams that are on mute. While streaming, do not put the song on mute, or else it will not count towards streaming counts. Seems obvious but now at least you know for sure!
