Question 1

How much does Spotify pay per stream in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Spotify pays an average of $0.003 to $0.005 per stream in 2026. The exact rate depends on the listener's country, whether they're on a free or premium plan, and the size of the monthly royalty pool. This calculator uses $0.004 as the average rate.

Question 2

How many Spotify streams do I need to make $1,000?

Accepted Answer

At an average rate of $0.004 per stream, you need approximately 250,000 Spotify streams to earn $1,000 before any distributor or label fees. With a typical 80% royalty share, you'd need around 312,500 streams.

Question 3

Does Spotify pay more for premium listeners?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Streams from Spotify Premium subscribers generate significantly higher royalties than streams from free-tier listeners. Premium streams can pay 2–3x more because the subscription revenue pool is larger per user.

Question 4

What is Spotify Discovery Mode?

Accepted Answer

Discovery Mode is a Spotify feature where artists accept approximately 30% lower royalties in exchange for increased algorithmic promotion in Radio, Autoplay, and personalized playlists. It can boost streams but reduces per-stream earnings.

Question 5

Does Spotify have a minimum stream threshold?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Since 2024, Spotify requires tracks to reach at least 1,000 streams within 12 months before generating royalties. Tracks below this threshold earn nothing regardless of play count.

Spotify Royalty Calculator 2026

Spotify Earnings by Stream Count

How many Spotify streams to make $1,000?