Your Earnings
$150.00
Gross
$300.00
Streams
100,000
Your Total Earnings
$150.00
from 100,000 streams
Gross
$300.00
Rate
$0.003
For $1K
333,334
Inputs
Result
Gross = 100,000 × $0.003 = $300. After 80/20 split: artist master = $300 × 20% = $60. Publishing pool = $300 × 30% = $90. Writer (100%) = $90. Total artist take = $60 + $90 = $150.
Inputs
Result
Gross = 1,000,000 × $0.008 = $8,000. Self-released: artist master = $8,000 × 100% = $8,000. Publishing = $8,000 × 30% = $2,400 (writer 100%). Total = $8,000 + $2,400 = $10,400.
Inputs
Result
Gross = 500,000 × $0.012 = $6,000. After 50/50 split: artist master = $6,000 × 50% = $3,000. Publishing = $6,000 × 30% = $1,800 (writer 100%). Total artist = $3,000 + $1,800 = $4,800.
Spotify pays approximately $0.003 to $0.005 per stream on average. The exact rate varies by listener’s country, subscription tier, and total platform plays. At $0.003/stream, 1 million streams earns about $3,000 in gross revenue.
| Platform | Avg Rate/Stream | 1M Streams | Streams for $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotify | $0.003 | $3,000 | 333,333 |
| Apple Music | $0.008 | $8,000 | 125,000 |
| Tidal | $0.012 | $12,000 | 83,333 |
| Amazon Music | $0.004 | $4,000 | 250,000 |
| YouTube Music | $0.002 | $2,000 | 500,000 |
| Deezer | $0.0064 | $6,400 | 156,250 |
There are two royalty streams: master royalties (recording) and publishing royalties (songwriting). A typical label deal gives the artist 15–20% of master royalties. Publishing is split 50/50 between writer and publisher. Self-released artists keep 100% of both.
| Deal Type | Artist Master % | Label Master % | Typical Net from $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-released | 100% | 0% | $1,000 |
| Indie label | 50% | 50% | $500 |
| Standard label | 20% | 80% | $200 |
| Major 360 deal | 15% | 85% | $150 |
Master royalties are paid for the use of a specific recording and go to the recording owner (artist or label). Publishing royalties are paid for the underlying song composition and go to the songwriter and publisher. Both are generated from each stream.
At Spotify’s average rate of $0.003/stream, you need about 333,333 streams to earn $1,000 gross. On Apple Music at $0.008/stream, you need only 125,000 streams. After label/publisher splits, the number can be 5x higher.
| Revenue Goal | Spotify Streams | Apple Music Streams | Tidal Streams |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | 33,333 | 12,500 | 8,333 |
| $1,000 | 333,333 | 125,000 | 83,333 |
| $10,000 | 3,333,333 | 1,250,000 | 833,333 |
| $50,000 | 16,666,667 | 6,250,000 | 4,166,667 |
DistroKid charges a flat annual fee ($22.99/year) and takes 0% of royalties. TuneCore charges per release but also takes 0%. CD Baby takes a one-time fee plus 9% of royalties. Each model works best for different release volumes.
Read our guide
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Last Updated: Mar 25, 2026
This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.