Don’t Rent A Stream! – Buy The Music Instead!
Joe Ruicci 
As a Music Blogger, it’s important to advocate for supporting musicians in a way that ensures they benefit fairly from their work. Here’s why musicians should encourage their audiences to buy the music instead of streaming:
Fair Compensation:
Streaming Services’ Payouts: Musicians earn a minuscule amount per stream. It takes thousands of streams to make a notable earning, which often isn’t enough to sustain an artist’s career.
Based on recent data, here is a list of payouts to musicians from the most popular streaming services highlighting just how little artists earn per stream, emphasizing why buying music directly supports them better.
- Spotify:
- Payout per Stream: $0.003 – $0.005
- It can take around 250-350 streams to earn $1.
- Apple Music:
- Payout per Stream: $0.007 – $0.010
- Approximately 100-150 streams are required to make $1.
- Amazon Music:
- Payout per Stream: $0.00402
- Roughly 240 streams to earn $1.
- Tidal:
- Payout per Stream: $0.01284
- About 80 streams are needed to make $1.
- YouTube Music:
- Payout per Stream: $0.00069
- Roughly 1,400-1,500 streams to earn $1.
- Pandora (Non-Interactive Streaming):
- Payout per Stream: $0.00133
- It takes around 750-950 streams to make $1.
Album Sales: When fans purchase music directly, whether it’s a digital download, a physical CD, or vinyl, the artist receives a significantly higher portion of the revenue. This direct income is crucial, especially for independent artists who rely on these sales to fund their endeavors.
Sustainable Revenue:
Long-Term Benefits: Buying music provides a more stable and predictable income compared to the fluctuating and minimal revenue from streams. This sustainability allows artists to plan their finances better, invest in new projects, and continue creating music.
Supporting Artistic Freedom:
Financial Independence: Revenue from music sales supports artists’ independence from record labels and other intermediaries, giving them more creative control over their work. This fosters a richer, more diverse music ecosystem where artists are free to experiment and innovate.
Building a Stronger Connection:
Fan Loyalty: When fans purchase music, they invest more deeply in the artist’s journey. This transaction creates a stronger bond between the artist and their followers, fostering a community of dedicated supporters who are more likely to attend concerts, buy merchandise, and promote the artist.
Quality over Quantity:
Experience: Listening to a purchased album as a whole, rather than shuffling through random tracks on a streaming service, provides a richer and more immersive experience. This appreciation of the complete work encourages a deeper engagement with the artist’s creative vision.