What Are the Best Music Streaming Services for Musicians & How Much You Get Paid

Getting your music on streaming platforms isn’t just an option — it’s essential. But not all streaming services pay artists the same, and each platform offers different advantages depending on your goals: fan reach, niche audience, high payouts, or playlist potential.

This guide breaks down what Are the Best Music Streaming Services for Musicians & How Much You Get Paid and explains how much they typically pay per stream, so you can make the smartest choice for your career.

1. Spotify

Why Spotify Is Great for Musicians

Spotify is still the biggest music streaming platform in the world. With more than half a billion users, it’s the most important place for discovery, playlist placements, and algorithmic growth.

Best for:

• Artists who want maximum exposure

• Playlist-driven growth

• Fans who love personalization & discovery

How Much Spotify Pays

• Average per stream: $0.003 – $0.005

• 1 million streams ≈ $3,000 – $5,000

Spotify royalty rates vary by:

• Listener’s country

• Paid vs free account

• Distribution deal

• Pro rata payout system

2. Apple Music

Why Apple Music Is Great for Musicians: What Are the Best Music Streaming Services for Musicians & How Much You Get Paid

Apple Music pays more per stream than Spotify, with a strong reputation for audio quality and curated playlists.

Best for:

• Higher per-stream payouts

• Audience that prefers premium sound

• Global fanbases

How Much Apple Music Pays

• Average per stream: ~$0.01

• 1 million streams ≈ $10,000

This is one of the highest mainstream payouts.

3. YouTube & YouTube Music

Why It’s Good for Musicians

YouTube is the biggest music search engine on Earth. Even if you don’t upload videos, your distributor will likely place your tracks on YouTube Music.

Best for:

• Music discovery

• Visual content creators

• Artists with strong branding or storytelling

How Much YouTube Pays

• YouTube Music per stream: $0.005 – $0.008

• Traditional YouTube video monetization: varies based on ad rates

• 1 million streams ≈ $5,000 – $8,000

YouTube’s reach makes up for inconsistent payouts.

4. Amazon Music

Why It’s Good for Musicians

Amazon Music is growing fast thanks to Prime subscribers. It performs especially well among older audiences and smart-home users (Alexa).

Best for:

• Growing markets

• Passive listening

• High audio-quality fans

How Much Amazon Pays

• Average per stream: $0.008 – $0.01

• 1 million streams ≈ $8,000 – $10,000

Comparable to Apple Music payouts.

5. Tidal

Why Tidal Is Loved by Artists

Tidal is known for being artist-focused, offering high-fidelity audio and some of the best payout rates in the industry.

Best for:

• Audiophiles

• Musicians who want fair pay

• Fans who invest in quality sound

How Much Tidal Pays

• Average per stream: $0.012 – $0.015

• 1 million streams ≈ $12,000 – $15,000

This is one of the highest per-stream payouts of any major platform.

6. Deezer

Why Deezer Matters

Strong in Europe and South America, with unique features like Flow (personalized listening).

Best for:

• International fanbases

• Non-US markets

• Artists targeting France, Brazil, Germany

How Much Deezer Pays

• Average per stream: $0.005 – $0.007

Not the highest, but great for global reach.

7. Pandora

Why Pandora Still Matters

Although less dominant now, Pandora’s radio-style listening is great for discovery, especially in the U.S.

Best for:

• Algorithmic radio

• Passive listeners

• Niche genres (jazz, folk, indie)

How Much Pandora Pays

Pandora pays through two systems:

• Radio streams: very low

• On-demand streams: ~$0.003 – $0.005

Pandora is more about exposure than high payouts.

So… Which Streaming Service Pays the Most?

Here’s a quick ranking (highest to lowest average payout):

Platform	Approx. Payout per Stream
Tidal	$0.012–$0.015
Apple Music	~$0.01
Amazon Music	$0.008–$0.01
YouTube Music	$0.005–$0.008
Deezer	$0.005–$0.007
Spotify	$0.003–$0.005
Pandora	$0.003–$0.005

Which Platform Should Musicians Prioritize?

If you want exposure:

✔️ Spotify✔️ YouTube / YouTube Music

If you want the highest pay per stream:

✔️ Tidal✔️ Apple Music✔️ Amazon Music

If you want international expansion:

✔️ Deezer✔️ YouTube Music

If you want radio-style discovery:

✔️ Pandora

Conclusion

Musicians need to be everywhere — but each streaming platform plays a different role.If your goal is exposure, Spotify and YouTube should be top priorities.If your goal is higher payouts, focus on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal.

The smartest strategy? Distribute to all platforms, then build targeted content and marketing for the channels where your audience lives and where you earn the most.