Streaming Royalty Disparity: Spotify and Others Pay Artists Less Than Half Apple Music’s Rate

The sentiment is shared by many artists who feel undervalued by some streaming platforms, but let’s fact-check the royalty rates based on the latest 2025 data from industry reports. These rates are averages per stream and can vary by region, subscription type, and contracts, but they provide a clear picture.

• Spotify: Approximately $0.0035 per stream .
• Apple Music (Music): Approximately $0.007 per stream—indeed about double Spotify’s rate .
• Tidal: Approximately $0.012 per stream—Spotify is around 29% of Tidal’s rate, which is more than ¼ (25%), but still significantly lower .
• Amazon Music: Approximately $0.004 per stream .
• YouTube Music: Approximately $0.001 per stream .
• Pandora: Approximately $0.0013 per stream .

So, Spotify does pay less than half of Apple Music’s rate (it’s exactly half in some estimates, but averages show slightly less), and less than a third of Tidal’s, highlighting the disparity. The “ripoff” perception stems from these low payouts, especially when streams number in the millions to earn meaningful income—e.g., 1 million Spotify streams might net an artist ~$3,500 after splits . Microsoft and Google aren’t directly involved in music streaming royalties (though YouTube Music falls under Google), but the call-out to Amazon, Spotify, YouTube, and Pandora is spot-on given their lower rates.

Artists are pushing back through unions like the United Musicians and Allied Workers, demanding fairer shares. If you’re an artist, consider diversifying to higher-paying platforms like Tidal or Apple Music, or focusing on live shows and merch for better revenue. What’s your take—time for a streaming overhaul?