Here we go buddies, In this article, we will be looking for the highest-paying music-streaming platform that gives the highest pay for your music streaming. In today’s music world, streaming platforms have become the foremost way for artists/musicians to share their music with their fans worldwide and earn revenue.
The ratio between reach and revenue is a vital concern for musicians aiming to build their professions in the digital era. Platforms, Tidal and Apple Music are well-known stream services for offer higher per-stream payouts. On the other hand, platforms like Spotify and YouTube may pay less per stream but attract vast audiences, providing significant earning potential for artists with high play counts.
These highest-paying platforms provide global recognition for musicians/artists. Each streaming platform has its own payout method, especially varying how much they pay artists per stream. Strategically Important for Independent Artists – Understanding which platforms pay the most can help artists decide where to distribute their music for maximum financial impact.
Also, By selecting the correct streaming platform, artists can not only amplify their exposure but also ensure they are fairly paid for their innovative efforts. Most important is to know that, Artists can not upload their music directly to music streaming platforms, To distribute your music on these music streaming platforms, artists have to contact the music distribution services provider, and then the music will be distributed to all the streaming services.
How Do Music Streaming Platforms Distribute Royalties To Artists/Musicians
As we all know, Music Streaming platforms distribute royalties to artists, rights holders, and other stakeholders based on their revenue model and the licensing agreements they have in place. Here are a few points we have that explain how streaming services distribute royalties to artists.
- Revenue Collection:
- Ad Revenue: It is a free plan for listeners and artists will earn from advertisements shown to free-tier users.
- Paid Subscriptions: Stream services charge monthly fees from premium subscribers and pay it to the artist depending on how much their song plays on streaming services.
- Pooling Revenue:
- Pro-Rata Model: Revenue is distributed based on the total number of streams across the platform. For example, if a track accounts for 1% of all streams in a month, it will earn 1% of the available royalty pool.
- User-Centric Model (Experimented by some platforms like Deezer): Revenue from each user is distributed only to the artists they listen to, rather than pooling it platform-wide.
- Distribution to Artists:
- Independent artists receive payouts via their Music distributor’s services.
- Signed artists receive their share after labels or other entities deduct their agreed-upon percentage.
- Revenue Allocation:- Generally, most of the streaming platforms give 70% of their total revenue to rights holders while keeping 30% for operational costs.
Our article analyzes the highest-paying music streaming platforms, freeing light on their payout methods, audience reach, and how they benefit artists financially. So, what are you waiting for, Let scroll up the page and see which platform gives more revenue so, artists can earn more.
Highest Paying Music Streaming Platform:
| Streaming Platforms | Average Payout |
| Tidal | $0.012 – $0.013 (1.2 – 1.3 cents per stream) |
| Napster | $0.009 – $0.01 (0.9 – 1 cent per stream) |
| Apple Music | $0.01 (1 cent per stream) |
| Amazon Music | $0.004 – $0.005 (0.4 – 0.5 cents per stream) |
| Deezer | $0.004 – $0.006 (0.4 – 0.6 cents per stream) |
| Spotify | $0.003 – $0.005 (0.3 – 0.5 cents per stream) |
| YouTube Music | $0.0008 – $0.002 (0.08 – 0.2 cents per stream) |
| Qobuz | $0.04 – $0.05 (4 – 5 cents per play) |
| Pandora | $0.0013 – $0.0015 (0.13 – 0.15 cents per stream) |
| SoundCloud | $0.0025 – $0.004 (0.25 – 0.4 cents per stream) |
1. Tidal
TIDAL is a global music streaming platform that brings fans closer to artists through unique experiences and the highest sound quality. launched in 2014 by the Norwegian-Swedish public company Aspiro.
- Average Payout: $0.012 – $0.013 (1.2 – 1.3 cents per stream).
- Known for its artist-first approach and high-fidelity audio options, Tidal offers the highest payout rates among major streaming platforms.
2. Napster
Napster, Founded by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker, the platform officially launched on June 1, 1999.
- Average Payout: $0.009 – $0.01 (0.9 – 1 cent per stream).
- Although less popular, Napster provides competitive payouts, benefiting artists with smaller, dedicated audiences.
3. Apple Music
Apple Music is one of the highest-paying audio streaming services developed by Apple Inc. Users can select music to stream to their device on-demand or listen to existing playlists.
- Average Payout: $0.01 (1 cent per stream).
- With its high user base and transparent royalty policies, Apple Music is a favorite among artists for fair compensation.
4. Amazon Music
Amazon Music previously known as Amazon MP3 is one of the music streaming platforms launched by Amazon. As of January 2020, the service had 55 million subscribers.
- Average Payout: $0.004 – $0.005 (0.4 – 0.5 cents per stream).
- A growing platform with features like HD audio, it offers consistent payouts compared to other services.
5. Deezer
Deezer is a French music streaming service founded in 2007 that delivers users access to a vast library of music tracks, podcasts, and radio stations.
- Average Payout: $0.004 – $0.006 (0.4 – 0.6 cents per stream).
- Deezer’s user-centric payment system in some regions ensures a fairer share of royalties for artists.
6. Spotify
Spotify is the most used Swedish audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It is one of the biggest providers of music streaming services, with over 640+ million monthly active users comprising 252+ million paying subscribers.
- Average Payout: $0.003 – $0.005 (0.3 – 0.5 cents per stream).
- While the payout is lower per stream, Spotify’s massive audience can generate significant overall revenue for artists.
7. YouTube Music
YouTube Music is a well-known music streaming service developed by YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet’s Google. The streaming services also feature a premium tier that provides several benefits to paying subscribers.
- Average Payout: $0.0008 – $0.002 (0.08 – 0.2 cents per stream).
- Despite its low per-stream rates, YouTube Music offers additional revenue opportunities through video ads and monetization.
8. Qobuz
Qobuz is a French digital music streaming service, launched in 2007 by Alexandre Leforestier and Yves Riesel. It is now owned by Xandrie SA.
- Average Payout: $0.04 – $0.05 (4 – 5 cents per play).
- It focuses on high-resolution audio and caters to audiophiles, offering one of the best payouts in the niche market.
9. Pandora
Pandora is a subscription-based music streaming service owned by the broadcasting corporation Sirius XM that is based in Oakland, California in the United States.
- Average Payout: $0.0013 – $0.0015 (0.13 – 0.15 cents per stream).
- Primarily available in the U.S., Pandora provides decent royalties through subscription and ad-supported streaming.
10. SoundCloud (via SoundCloud Premier)
SoundCloud is a German audio streaming service owned and operated by SoundCloud Global Limited & Co. KG. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is one of the largest music streaming services in the world and is available in 190 countries and territories.
- Average Payout: $0.0025 – $0.004 (0.25 – 0.4 cents per stream).
- SoundCloud Premier enables independent artists to monetize their streams directly.
Hope you guys enjoyed our article.
