A Musician’s Guide To Understanding Stream Royalties
If you’re sharing your music on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube, chances are you’ve heard of stream royalties. But what do they really mean, and how do you get paid? Let’s keep things clear and simple so you know how your music is making money. For helpful tips on music promotion and more, you can also check out buzzclick-music.com.
First off, stream royalties are payments you earn when people play your music online. These royalties usually come in two types: performance and mechanical. Performance royalties are paid when your song is played in public, like on a streaming site or radio station. Mechanical royalties come from the song being copied or reproduced, like when someone downloads it or plays a stream that counts as a copy.
A lot of streaming services pay you per stream. It’s important to know that this rate can be really low—often just a fraction of a cent per play. For example, one stream on Spotify might pay around $0.003 to $0.005. So, to earn just $1, you’ll need a few hundred plays. Still, it can add up over time if your music keeps getting heard.
Now, who actually gets the money? If you wrote the song and also performed it, you’re lucky—you may get both kinds of royalties. But if other people helped write or produce the track, or if you’re signed to a label, your earnings may be shared based on agreements you’ve signed.
To make sure you’re getting paid everything you should, sign up with a performing rights organization (PRO), like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the U.S. They help collect the royalties you’re owed. You might also consider using a music distributor like DistroKid or TuneCore. They help get your songs onto streaming platforms and handle some of the royalty payments.
Keep track of your streams, and don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions if something doesn’t seem right. Music is your art, but it’s also your work—and every play is proof that people are listening.
Stream royalties might seem tricky at first, but once you know the basics, it gets easier. Keep creating music, keep learning, and know that every stream counts.