Royalties
Royalty and Recoupment Calculator
Estimate streaming revenue, distributor fees, collaborator splits, and the streams needed to recoup a budget.
Royalties
Tool inputs
Generated output
Royalty Calculator
Gross revenue · Spotify
$400 USD
100,000 streams
Net after distributor fee
$400 USD
Your share · 100%
$400 USD
Estimated gross across DSPs
Same 100,000 streams · USD · gross before fees and splits
| Platform | Est. rate | Gross (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | $0.0040 | $400 |
| Apple Music | $0.0100 | $1,000 |
| Amazon Music | $0.0040 | $400 |
| Tidal | $0.0125 | $1,250 |
| Deezer | $0.0064 | $640 |
| YouTube Music | $0.0020 | $200 |
| YouTube Content ID | $0.0008 | $80.00 |
| Meta (Instagram / Facebook) | $0.0010 | $100 |
| TikTok | $0.0030 | $300 |
Use this as a planning range
No DSP pays a fixed per-stream rate. These figures are third-party estimates of an average that varies by territory, subscription type, currency, and reporting period. Treat this as a directional model in USD, not an accounting statement.
Next best move
Velveteen handles distribution, release validation, royalties, and label-style pitching in one workflow. Use this result to tighten the release, then move it into a real distribution plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Spotify pay per stream?+
There is no fixed rate. Spotify distributes a royalty pool each month based on total streams, subscriber mix, and territory. Third-party estimates average around $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, but actual payouts vary significantly.
Why does my distributor take a percentage?+
Distributors charge either a flat annual fee or a percentage of net revenue in exchange for delivering your music to DSPs, collecting royalties on your behalf, and handling licensing paperwork.
What is a master share vs. a publishing share?+
The master share covers the recording itself — who owns the file. The publishing share covers the composition — who wrote the song. They are separate royalty streams and can be split independently among different collaborators.
How many streams do I need to recoup a promotion budget?+
It depends on your net per-stream rate after distributor fees and collaborator splits. Use the recoupment field in this calculator to model your specific situation rather than relying on round-number estimates.
Related guides
All guidesPillar guide
Spotify royalties guide
How Spotify streamshare works, what the 1,000-stream recorded royalty threshold includes, and how to verify eligibility and payment.
Pillar guide
How to Collect Every Music Royalty
A Canadian indie artist collects royalties by registering across two copyrights: the composition (SOCAN for performance, CMRRA or SOCAN Reproduction for mechanical) and the recording (ACTRA RACS or Artisti for neighbouring rights, plus a maker collective).
Pillar guide
Music Publishing Administration
A rights-first map of songwriter and publishing royalties, the separate recording side, and what an administrator actually handles.
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Direct-to-fan guide
An operating model for turning fan relationships into durable revenue without making Discord, storefronts, or social platforms the source of truth.