In this section, we’re focusing on select groups of these artists by charting their path to growth in streams and revenue. In 2020, 1.2 million artists had over 1,000 listeners. From there, listeners ultimately decide who succeeds and thrives. And while not every artist on Spotify will find the same success, we’re working to create opportunities for more creators to reach more fans. Our goal is to help professional musicians make a living.

There are artists we’ve known and loved for years, those who are just beginning to rock our world, those on the cusp of discovery, and those who are just starting out. Each is unique, with their own hopes and dreams. Of the millions of creators on Spotify, no two are the same. Spotify’s % of recorded music revenue calculated based on IFPI’s 2020 Global Music Report *$23 billion, $5 billion, and $3.3 billion include both recording and publishing royalties. These numbers do not account for revenue generated from other streaming services, physical sales, touring, merch, sync, or other sources. And streaming only makes up a portion of all industry revenues, so these figures represent a part of the picture. In 2020, Spotify accounted for more than 20% of recorded music revenue (up from less than 15% in 2017). Spotify is one of many music streaming services that generate revenue for rights holders. To put those numbers in context, click a dollar amount below to see how many artists globally generated at least that amount - across recording and publishing for their catalog - for each of the past four years on Spotify.

As of 2020, Spotify has paid over $23 billion in royalties to rights holders - including over $5 billion in 2020 alone, up from $3.3 billion in 2017.*

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