Not as a current, guaranteed artist payment. Apple reported an average value of $0.01 per play for individual paid plans in 2020, including label and publisher royalties. That historical figure is not what every artist personally receives, and it does not establish that Apple Music currently pays artists twice as much as Spotify. Both services describe royalty allocation in terms of shares of listening and revenue, not a fixed amount owed for every play.
Where the “twice as much” claim comes from
The comparison traces to Apple’s 2021 disclosure that its average per-play rate for individual paid plans in 2020 was one cent. Contemporary coverage framed that figure as roughly double Spotify’s average. The arithmetic behind that headline is not a universal price list: Apple says the value varies by plan and country or region, and its figure includes royalties for labels and publishers as well as other rights holders. See Apple’s explanation at Apple Music for Artists, alongside contemporaneous coverage from TechCrunch and 9to5Mac.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
$100 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
$15 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
$25 Apple Gift Card—Email Delivery | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Apple Physical Gift Card | $100.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Apple’s stated $0.01 average applies to Apple Music individual paid plans in 2020. It should not be presented as a current rate, as a rate for every Apple Music plan or territory, or as an artist’s personal take-home amount.
Why a “per-stream rate” is not a fixed payment
Both companies describe royalties as allocations based on listening share rather than a fixed payment attached to each play. Spotify says royalties are calculated on “streamshare”: an artist or songwriter’s portion of the streams in the relevant pool. Apple’s disclosure likewise describes an average that varies with plan and territory. Dividing total royalties by total plays can produce a useful rough average, but the result changes with listener activity, subscription and advertising revenue, territory, and the period measured. Spotify explains its approach in its Royalties Guide and its Loud & Clear FAQ.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
- Perfect for App Store purchases and subscriptions—get apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.
- The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
Spotify reports that it paid more than $11 billion in 2025, according to its 2026 Loud & Clear FAQ. That is a platform-reported total paid to the music industry and rightsholders, not a per-stream rate or a direct artist-payment figure. It cannot be compared directly with Apple’s 2020 average per play.
What the money pays for—and who receives it
A stream can generate separate recording and publishing royalties. Spotify’s guide says recording royalties go to recording rightsholders, typically labels or distributors; publishing royalties go to songwriters or composition owners through publishers, performing-rights organizations (PROs), and mechanical agencies. Spotify says it pays rightsholders, who then pay artists and songwriters according to their agreements. Apple’s one-cent average also includes label and publisher royalties, so it is not equivalent to the amount paid to a performer.
Rank #2
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
- Perfect for App Store purchases and subscriptions—get apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.
- The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
Spotify describes about two-thirds of its music revenue as allocated to recording and publishing royalties; within that allocation, its guide says the remainder is divided approximately four-fifths to recording and one-fifth to publishing. Those are Spotify’s descriptions of its own model, not a direct comparison with Apple’s allocation or a promise about an individual’s earnings.
What determines an individual artist’s payout
A platform-level average cannot tell an artist what a particular statement will show. The relevant amount depends on how much revenue enters the applicable royalty pools, how the artist’s listening contributes to streamshare, and the rights and agreements attached to the recording and composition.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
- Perfect for App Store purchases and subscriptions—get apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.
- The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
- Available in $15 - 500, Card delivered via email or SMS
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
- Plan and territory: paid and ad-supported listening, subscription prices, and country-level revenue affect the value of the pool.
- Listening share and period: an artist’s proportion of streams and the time window used affect allocation; totals must cover comparable periods before they can be compared.
- Rights category: recording and composition royalties follow different payment paths and may involve different rights holders.
- Contracts and fees: label, distributor, publisher, or administrator agreements determine what reaches the artist or songwriter, including any recoupment or other deductions.
How an artist can investigate a royalty statement
- Identify the service, territory, and period. Check the rightsholder statement or dashboard for the usage details and reporting window; Spotify says these details should be available in rightsholder reporting.
- Separate recording from publishing income. Confirm which rightsholder or administrator reports each category rather than treating all royalties as one payment.
- Check the agreement and deductions. Review the label, distributor, publisher, or administrator terms, including fees and whether an advance is still being recouped.
- Verify songwriting registrations. Songwriters should register works with the relevant PRO, mechanical agency, or publisher so usage can be tracked and publishing royalties routed.
These checks help explain an individual statement; they do not turn a platform average into a guaranteed rate. Spotify’s guidance is available in its Royalties Guide and its FAQ on how artists and songwriters get paid.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare Apple Music and Spotify fairly
A meaningful comparison needs matching evidence, not just two “per-stream” figures. Compare the same time period, territories, plan types, rights categories, and denominator; establish whether totals refer to all rightsholders or to artists after contractual deductions. The available company disclosures do not establish a current, like-for-like Apple-versus-Spotify artist payout ratio.
Rank #4
- For all things Apple - products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud+, and more.
- Perfect for App Store purchases and subscriptions—get apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, and more.
- The perfect gift to say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, and more.
- Available in $100 and $200, Card delivered via mail.
- Use it for purchases at any Apple Store location, on the Apple Store app, apple.com, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple News+, Apple Books, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Fitness+, Apple One, and other Apple properties in US only
Apple also says it does not pay a lower royalty rate in exchange for featuring on editorial playlists, personalized playlists, or algorithmic recommendations, as stated on its royalty explanation page.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
