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
| Platform | USD / 1K |
|---|---|
| Spotify | 0.89 |
| Apple Music | 2.58 |
| Amazon Music Ad-Supported | 1.32 |
| Amazon Music Prime | 0.88 |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | 6.27 |
| Facebook / Instagram | 0.0011 – 0.0014 (per video creation) |
| TIDAL | 8.85 |
| TikTok | 0.0013 |
| YouTube Music + Content ID | ~0.40–0.50 |
| Deezer | 5.51 |
| JioSaavn | 0.61 |
U.S. & Canada
| Platform | USD / 1K |
|---|---|
| Spotify | 2.63 |
| Apple Music | 4.23 |
| Amazon Music Ad-Supported | 1.02 |
| Amazon Music Prime | 1.53 |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | 5.55 |
| Facebook / Instagram | 0.018 – 0.028 (per video creation) |
| TIDAL | 7.50 |
| TikTok | 0.0098 |
| YouTube Music + Content ID | ~5.00–8.00 |
| Deezer | ~3.77 |
Europe
| Platform | USD / 1K |
|---|---|
| Spotify | 2.93 |
| Apple Music | 6.93 |
| Amazon Music Ad-Supported | 0.92 |
| Amazon Music Prime | 1.85 |
| Amazon Music Unlimited | 1.27 |
| Facebook / Instagram | 0.011 – 0.021 (per video creation) |
| TIDAL | 10.20 |
| TikTok | 0.0059 |
| YouTube Music + Content ID | ~4.20–6.50 |
| Deezer | 3.77 |
🚀 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 help@wavbee.com! Let’s help you maximize your earnings and reach a global audience.
