How Different Platforms Pay Independent Artists

• eazac
• November 24, 2024
• Guides
• royalty earnings
• 0 Comments

If you’re an independent artist, knowing how each platform actually pays you is one of the most important steps toward building a sustainable career. Different platforms have very different payout models, and the numbers vary a lot between countries.

At WAVBEE, we collect real royalty data from our artists, so this guide is based on verified 2025 numbers—not guesswork. Let’s break it down.

Spotify – Streamshare Model (+ New Rules in 2025)

• How it works: All subscription + ad revenue in a country is pooled. You get paid based on your share of total streams in that country.
• Key factors: listener’s country, Premium vs. ad-supported, and whether you’ve enabled Discovery Mode (which applies a commission to those streams).
• Update: Tracks now need 1,000+ annual streams to qualify for royalties. Tracks under that threshold don’t earn.

Apple Music – Subscription Only, No Free Tier

• How it works: Revenue comes only from paying subscribers. This usually means higher and more stable payouts compared to Spotify.
• Typical payout: Roughly $0.01 per stream in the US (but varies by plan and territory).

Amazon Music – 3 Different Tiers

• Ad-Supported: Lower royalties.
• Prime Music: Bundled in Amazon Prime subscription, also lower.
• Unlimited: Paid music-only subscription, pays best out of the three.

YouTube – Streams + Content ID

• YouTube Music: Works like other DSPs, pays from Premium subscriptions and ads.
• Main YouTube (UGC): Your distributor claims videos using your music via Content ID and you earn a share of ad revenue.
• Tip: Long-tail revenue is huge here. Even small UGC videos add up.

TIDAL – Artist-Friendly Payouts

• Consistently one of the highest per-stream rates.
• Appeals more to dedicated music listeners, so total streams may be smaller, but each one is worth more.

Meta (Instagram & Facebook) – Per Creation, Not Per View

• Big difference from other platforms: You don’t get paid per stream or per view.
• Instead, every new video created with your music (Reel, Story, Post) counts as a paid usage (“production event”).
• Facebook Music Revenue Sharing: For videos ≥60s with ads, the video creator gets 20% of ad revenue, the rest is split between rights holders and Meta.
• Artist takeaway: The more fans actually use your music in content, the more you earn—not how many people watch it.

TikTok – From Creations to Views

• Historically paid per video creation (like Meta).
• In 2025, some distributor deals have shifted to view-based payouts for certain UGC monetization programs.
• Artist takeaway: Encourage fans to create videos, but also pay attention to view counts, since both may matter.

Deezer – Smaller but Strong in Europe

• Pays better in some European countries compared to Spotify.
• Total audience is smaller but per-stream value is competitive.

JioSaavn – India’s Local Favorite

• One of the most important DSPs in India.
• Average payout: $0.61 per 1,000 streams.
• Great for reaching Indian audiences even if payouts are lower than global DSPs.

💰 WAVBEE Artist Royalties (Past 6 Months – USD per 1,000 Streams)

India

U.S. & Canada

Europe

🚀 What Artists Should Focus On

• Spotify: Push for engaged Premium listeners in high-value countries.
• Apple Music & TIDAL: Fewer streams, but higher payouts.
• YouTube & Meta: Think long-term UGC—encourage fans to use your music.
• India strategy: Don’t skip JioSaavn if your audience is here.
• Amazon tiers: Most money comes from Unlimited, but don’t ignore Prime reach.

👉 WAVBEE makes sure you see exactly where your royalties come from, down to the territory and platform. That’s how you can spot opportunities and maximize earnings.

💡 Want to see your own numbers with this level of clarity? Join WAVBEE Today

Have questions about royalties? Contact us at [email protected]! Let’s help you maximize your earnings and reach a global audience.

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