Streaming royalties are the fees paid to songwriters every time a song is played on sites such as Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music. These fees are a vital source of income for songwriters and artists. However, it’s not as simple as it sounds…

There are two types of steaming service: On-demand and Non-interactive. On-demand services include platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music and Youtube. They are placed in this category for their music being ‘on-demand’. Listeners can hear any song whenever they see fit. Non-interactive streaming platforms include sites such as Pandora and internet radio websites. These platforms function much like a radio, playing songs to listeners at random, without the ability to select specific tracks.