Music Royalty Calculator
Estimate your streaming royalties across platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and more. Calculate artist earnings after distributor and label splits.
Rate: ~$0.0040 per stream
Artist
Label
Common rates: DistroKid (0%), TuneCore (0%), CD Baby (9%), Label (15-30%)
Monthly Revenue Breakdown
Platform Comparison (Artist Take-Home)
* Streaming rates are estimates and vary based on listener location, subscription type, and platform policies. Actual payouts may differ.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your monthly stream count from your distributor dashboard.
Select your primary streaming platform to see specific per-stream rates.
Set your artist/label split and distributor fee percentage.
View your monthly and yearly earnings breakdown across all platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do streaming rates vary so much between platforms?
Each platform has different revenue models, subscription tiers, and listener demographics. Platforms like Tidal and Apple Music pay more per stream because they have higher subscription prices and fewer free-tier users. Spotify and YouTube pay less per stream but offer larger audiences.
What is a typical distributor fee?
Distributor fees range from 0% (DistroKid, TuneCore) to 15-30% (traditional distributors with additional services). Some distributors charge annual fees instead of percentages. Independent artists using platforms like DistroKid keep 100% of their royalties after platform payouts.
How accurate are these streaming royalty estimates?
These are estimates based on average per-stream rates. Actual payouts vary based on listener location (US streams pay more than emerging markets), subscription type (premium vs. free tier), and monthly platform revenue. Use these figures for planning, but expect 20-30% variance.
What is the difference between artist and label splits?
If you are independent with no label, you keep 100% of the artist share. If signed to a label, typical splits range from 50/50 to 80/20 in the artist's favor, depending on the deal. The label share covers their investment in marketing, distribution, and advances.
How many streams do I need to make a living from music?
At average rates, you need roughly 250,000-400,000 monthly streams to earn minimum wage in the US. However, most artists diversify income through live shows, merchandise, sync licensing, and Patreon. Streaming should be one part of a broader revenue strategy.
Why Use This Calculator
- Compare royalty rates across all major streaming platforms
- Calculate your take-home after distributor and label splits
- Estimate yearly earnings based on monthly streams
- Understand how many streams you need to reach income goals
- Plan your release strategy with realistic revenue projections
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