Can You Really Make Money on Spotify? Here's How People Are Cashing In

While some people still ask on forums, 'Does anyone actually make money from Spotify?' or 'How do you make money on Spotify?', others have already made a fortune using the platform.

With 675 million monthly active users, Spotify is one of the biggest music streaming platforms—and it offers plenty of ways to earn money. Whether you're a musician or someone with no music skills at all, there are ways to tap into its revenue streams.

In this guide, we'll break down how Spotify monetization works, how much artists really make, and share strategies to help you make money.

How Does Spotify Monetization Work?

Spotify generates revenue through premium subscriptions, advertisements, and sponsored links. A portion of this revenue is distributed to artists and rights holders, but the payout system can be complicated and varies based on factors like stream share and listener location.

How Spotify Makes Money?

Spotify's revenue comes from three main sources:

• Premium Subscriptions – Paid users contribute to a steady revenue stream.
• Advertisements – Free-tier users hear ads, generating ad revenue.
• Sponsored Links & Commissions – Spotify earns commissions from ticket sales and promoted content.

The total revenue is pooled, but not all of it goes directly to artists. A significant share is allocated to record labels, publishers, and corporate partners before reaching musicians.

How Artists Get Paid on Spotify?

Spotify follows a pro-rata royalty system, meaning artists earn based on their share of total streams on the platform. There is no fixed per-stream payout. Instead, the calculation depends on:

• Total Monthly Revenue Pool – The money collected from subscriptions and ads.
• Pro-Rata Share of Streams – Artists receive a percentage of royalties based on their total streams relative to all streams on Spotify.
• Listener Location – Streams from high-paying regions (e.g., the U.S., UK) yield higher royalties.

While the average payout per stream is estimated at $0.002 – $0.005, actual earnings vary depending on these factors.

How to Make Money on Spotify?

Now that you understand the basics, let's explore different ways to make money on Spotify.

1. Share or Sell Your Spotify Account

For long-term Spotify Premium users, the subscription fee isn't exactly cheap. In fact, some people even give up on Premium because of the cost. But imagine how much more tempting it would be if you could get it for half the price?

With AdsPower, you can manage and authorize different users to access your Spotify account securely without triggering location or device detection.

This allows you to:

• Split the cost of a Spotify Premium Family or Duo plan with friends, family, or even strangers online — making Premium much more affordable.
• Sell access to your Spotify account or offer paid account-sharing services in online communities — turning your subscription into a passive income source.

2. Upload Your Music and Earn Streaming Royalties

For artists, the most straightforward way to earn money on Spotify is through streaming royalties. Here's how:

• Sign up with a music distributor: Platforms like DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby help independent artists upload music to Spotify.
• Promote your music: Share your tracks on social media like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to reach a wider audience and engage with fans. Alternatively, use Spotify Ad Studio to run targeted audio ads. While it requires upfront investment, a $500 ad campaign might generate around 50,000 new streams, helping increase your exposure and potential royalties.
• Optimize your profile: Ensure your Spotify profile is well-organized, includes an engaging bio, and has high-quality cover art.

Tips:

• Automate Engagement on Social Media — Use AdsPower's RPA feature to automatically interact with your posts across social platforms. From auto-liking to auto-commenting, simply go to "RPA" > "Marketplace" in AdsPower, choose the ready-made script you need, and run it.

• Run Multi-Channel Promotion Campaigns at Scale — With AdsPower, you can easily create and manage multiple ad accounts without worrying about account association or security risks. This allows you to scale your promotion efforts across different platforms.

• Bypass Region Restrictions — Spotify only allows 14 days of use in abroad regions without re-login verification. Once the limit is reached, you'll see a "login failed" notification.

With AdsPower, your browser fingerprint stays consistent — so no matter how far you travel, as long as you open Spotify through AdsPower, it won't detect any change in your location.

3. Monetize Your Spotify Playlist

Even if you're not a musician, you can still earn money on Spotify by curating popular playlists. Here's how:

• Get paid for reviewing new music: Platforms like SubmitHub and PlaylistPush allow playlist curators to review tracks from independent artists and get paid for their feedback. A curator on PlaylistPush can earn between $1.25 and $15 per song review, while SubmitHub offers $0.50 to $12 per review.
• Charge for song placements: Artists and labels may pay to have their songs featured on a well-followed playlist. With a strong following, you can charge $50 or more per track placement.
  Sell advertising slots: Some curators promote brands and products within their playlist descriptions or social media channels.

4. Collaborate with Brands and Sponsors

Artists and curators with a dedicated following can partner with brands to create promotional campaigns. These partnerships may include sponsored playlists, product placements, or social media collaborations.

For example, you could feature branded content in your playlists or music videos and get paid for the exposure.

5. Solicit Listener Donations

For artists or creators with a loyal fanbase, donations can be a great source of income. Platforms like Patreon, Ko-fi, or Buy Me a Coffee allow you to collect money directly from your supporters in exchange for exclusive content, shoutouts, or other perks. This is especially effective for creators who engage with their audiences consistently.

6. Sell Merchandise to Your Spotify Fans

Spotify also allows artists to sell merch directly through their profile via Shopify integration. This is an excellent way to make money on Spotify while building a brand. After 2022's Spotify Wrapped event led to the highest-grossing week for artist merch sales in the company's history, Spotify introduced a dedicated Merch Hub within the app. This hub features personalized merch recommendations based on users' listening history, making it easier than ever for fans to discover and purchase products directly from the artists they love.

Popular merch items include:

• T-shirts and hoodies
• Posters and stickers
• Vinyl records and CDs
• Exclusive digital content

7. Try Podcasting

Podcasting has become an increasingly popular way to make money on Spotify, and it offers unique opportunities for creators who are looking to monetize their content. Unlike music, which typically generates royalties through streams, podcasts open up additional revenue streams like ads, sponsorships, and live events.

How to Monetize Podcasts on Spotify:

• Ad Revenue: Spotify doesn't pay royalties for podcast episodes, but it provides integrated ad programs that allow you to monetize your show. Platforms like Anchor, which is owned by Spotify, help creators find advertising deals, enabling you to insert ads into your episodes. As your podcast grows in popularity, advertisers may offer better deals.
• Sponsorships: Once your podcast gains a following, you can secure sponsorships from companies that want to reach your audience. Sponsorships typically involve a brand paying you to promote their product or service within your episodes. The more niche or engaged your audience is, the higher the potential payout.
  Live Events: If your podcast becomes successful, you can also sell tickets to live events, such as live shows, Q&A sessions, or podcast recording events. This offers a great opportunity to further monetize your content and connect with your audience in person.
• Fan Support: Spotify also provides fan-support tools, such as listener donations or subscriptions, offering a way for your most dedicated listeners to directly support your work and further boost your income.

8. Sell Concert Tickets to a Live Show

Spotify allows artists to promote their live shows directly through platforms like Ticketmaster, Eventbrite, and Songkick. By linking your concert tickets to your Spotify profile, you can convert your listeners into concert-goers. It's a great way to boost revenue and strengthen the connection with your fanbase. Make sure to update your profile with upcoming events and provide fans with easy access to ticket purchasing.

FAQs

How does Spotify count streams?

Spotify counts a stream whenever a listener plays a track for at least 30 seconds. This means that the platform doesn't count plays that are skipped before the 30-second mark. For artists, each stream contributes to their royalties, which are calculated based on the total number of streams their songs accumulate relative to other tracks on the platform.

Can you make money on Spotify without being a musician?

Yes, you can make money on Spotify even if you're not a musician. Besides curating playlists and reviewing tracks, you can generate income by promoting merchandise, collaborating with brands, and offering podcast content. Spotify provides a range of monetization options for both musicians and non-musicians alike.

Conclusion

Making money on Spotify isn't just for musicians. Whether you're an artist, playlist curator, or podcaster, there are countless opportunities to generate income. By leveraging the platform's diverse monetization options—like streaming royalties, playlist curation, brand collaborations, and merchandise sales—you can transform your Spotify presence into a sustainable revenue stream. Stay creative, engage with your audience, and explore different strategies to maximize your earnings. The more consistent and strategic you are, the greater your potential for success.