Spotify is an online service for streaming music, podcasts, and other audio content that offers users the ability to stream whatever they want. Established in 2008, it has established itself as one of the most beloved music streaming services in the world. Spotify also gives singers and creators the opportunity to earn money based on the number of plays of their musical content.
In this text, we tell you how this platform works, how it allows artists to earn money and how much they receive with 1 million plays.
Earning money on Spotify: how does it work?
If you're an artist or music content creator, here are some strategies to consider for making money on Spotify:
Broadcast your music on the platform
First, submit your music to Spotify through an approved distributor. You can use digital distribution platforms such as DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, or even Routenote to make your music available to listeners on Spotify.
Accumulate streams
The more your music content is streamed, the more revenue you generate on the platform. Encourage your fans to listen and then share your music, and try to reach popular playlists to increase your listens.
Become a verified artist
Once you have accumulated enough audience, you can apply to become a verified artist on Spotify. This allows you to access some additional features and increase your visibility.
Build playlists
Create playlists on Spotify and include your songs in them, as well as those of other similar artists. If your playlists are growing in popularity, it can help you attract new listeners to your music.
Engage on social media
Use social media to promote your music, interact with your fans and reach new audiences. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok can be great tools for growing your fan base.
Participate in partnerships and editorial playlists
Collaborating with other artists or brands, and trying to be included in Spotify's editorial playlists, can give you additional visibility and help increase your listens.
Participate in Spotify for Artists
Use the Spotify for Artists tool to get information about your listeners, their location, the playlists where your music appears, and more. This will help you better understand your audience and tailor your promotion strategy.
Leverage other sources of income
Besides revenue from streams, consider other revenue streams like merchandise sales, concerts, licensing deals, and partnerships.
It's important to keep in mind that making money on Spotify often takes time, persistence, and actively promoting your music. Being committed to building a loyal fanbase and providing quality content is also essential to succeeding on the platform.
How much is 1 million views on Spotify?
The revenue generated by 1 million views on Spotify can vary greatly depending on several factors. Unlike YouTube, Spotify doesn't pay artists or rights holders based on the number of plays (or "views") of a song.
Spotify's revenue model is based on paid subscriptions and ad revenue. Artists and rights holders are compensated based on the number of plays of their songs by premium subscribers and advertising revenue generated by free Spotify users.
Spotify uses a complex system to calculate payments to artists, involving royalty pools, market percentages and other factors. In general, artists earn fractions of a penny for each listen to their song.
The exact amount that 1 million plays would bring in depends on the popularity of the artist, the total number of plays they generate, their contract with the record label or distributor, and Spotify's market share in the country where the tapping takes place. Due to this complexity and variable factors, it is difficult to give a precise figure on the revenue that 1 million plays on Spotify would generate for a specific artist.
Overall, 1 millionplays on Spotify corresponds to more than 2000 €, which amounts to approximately 1 € for 500 streams. It should also be considered that the contracts between rights holders and streaming platforms can influence the remuneration of artists.
For emerging artists, the income can be relatively low, while very popular artists and hit titles can generate significant revenue from a large number of streams.
It is essential for artists to diversify their sources of income by using streaming platforms, but also by focusing on concerts, merchandise sales, music licensing, and other opportunities to increase their overall income.