Ah, music streaming, that little revolution that lets us listen to our favorite hits anywhere, anytime. But behind your Spotify, Apple Music, or Deezer playlists lies a question that's making the industry grind its teeth: how much do artists really earn per stream? Spoiler: not much. 😬
Pennies, and more...
Each platform has its own model, but on average, we're talking about €0.003 to €0.005 per stream . Here's an overview of the estimated amounts:
- Spotify : around €0.003 to €0.005 per stream . 🎧
- Apple Music : a little more generous, with €0.006 to €0.008 per stream . 🍎
- Deezer : similar to Spotify, around €0.004 per stream , but testing a fairer model. 🎵
- YouTube Music : at the bottom of the scale with €0.001 to €0.002 per stream . 📹
Yes, to earn €1 , an artist must on average accumulate 250 to 1000 plays depending on the platform. To reach minimum wage, millions of streams would be needed. 💸 Suffice to say that for the majority of musicians, this is not the jackpot.
Income not so easy to share
And yet, this meager share doesn't go entirely into their pockets. Labels, producers, managers... everyone takes their cut. In the end, the artist ends up with a small piece of the pie. 🍰
The platforms in question
Spotify is often criticized for its low payouts, but it's not alone. Apple Music pays a little more, but the difference remains marginal. Deezer, for its part, relies on a "User-Centric Payment System" (UCPS) model, which aims to better distribute revenue based on actual listening. As for YouTube Music, it's a poor performer, with some of the lowest payouts. 😢
The artists are getting organized ✊
Faced with this situation, many artists are taking action. Some, like Taylor Swift and Thom Yorke, have temporarily boycotted certain platforms, denouncing the "unfair" model. Others are choosing alternatives like Bandcamp, where musicians keep a larger share of the revenue.
What to do as an auditor?
If you want to support your favorite artists, don't hesitate to buy their albums, vinyl records, or go to their concerts. 🎤✨ Streams are great, but a T-shirt or concert ticket is even better for their finances!
In the meantime, keep filling your playlists… and dream of a world where every stream has a meaningful impact. 😉