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Who’s Making the Most Money on Spotify in 2025?

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In 2025, Spotify conquers the music streaming world, with 500+ million monthly paying subscribers globally. Considering the platform paid out $10 billion in royalties, a record high, during 2024, it’s evident that streaming is now a revenue stream for artists. Yet only a few musicians are making good money from it.

At the top of the list is Drake, whose 21.5 billion streams yield around $52.5 million. Next up is J Balvin, with $37.9 million this year, a clean-up job from his massive streaming numbers. Other artists who earned significant amounts included Post Malone, Ariana Grande, and Bad Bunny, each featured among the platform’s top earners.

In electronic music, the Chainsmokers had 7.2 billion streams and made $17.7 million, and Calvin Harris made $14 million. The first-place finisher among the grossers is Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” which earned $6.6 million from 2.7 billion streams.

Although these numbers are impressive, most artists on Spotify receive a much lower payday. In its 2024 Loud & Clear report, Spotify found that only 4.4% of artists make at least $131,000 annually. On average, an artist in the bottom 98.6% of earners makes just $12 monthly. This difference underscores the difficulties many musicians face in the streaming age.

Dead artists are still having a real impact on Spotify. Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, and Aim for the Moon have 8.51 billion streams, £29.29m, 6.79 billion streams, and £23.37 million in earnings with Juice WRLD’s “Legends Never Die.” Lil Peep and The Notorious B.I.G. are also proving influential, with their music still raking in significant amounts of money.

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Spotify’s global platform has allowed artists to perform in front of audiences beyond their home countries. In 2024, most artists who earned at least $1,000 in royalties made most of their revenue through international listeners, at over 50%. Since 2017, the number of female artists grossing over $1 million per year has quadrupled, signaling greater diversity and representation in the music industry.

The few artists who do make millions from Spotify streams get 1 %, while the 1% of artists get funds. Only a handful of artists are financially rewarded through it, even as the platform’s continued global reach and growing diversity create opportunities for emergent practitioners.

Let me know what you thought of this post in the comments if you found this article interesting!

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Artist Spotlight

Noah Zayden releases a new single “Fuego”

Fuego

With “Fuego,” Zayden turns the tables. It’s still personal, still vulnerable, but this time the narrative moves toward hope. Inspired by the realness of heartbreak and the fear of love lost, Fuego is like watching emotional armor slowly melt. The beat is subdued but warm, and his vocal delivery has a fragility that makes every line sound confessional.

It’s not only how to fall in love, it’s also how to learn to trust again after being burned. There’s something beautiful about that vulnerability, something powerful about electing to jump anyway. “Fuego” just speaks the truth. And in its simplicity, it glows bright.

Stream this song:

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Artist Spotlight

“I AM Good Enough” by TaniA Kyllikki evokes a soaring melodic anthem to liberate self-affirmation

TaniA Kyllikki

TaniA Kyllikki has never been one to shy away from vulnerability as she demonstrates commendable resilience in her soul-stirring new single, “I AM Good Enough.” This composition serves as a melodic awakening and represents a multifaceted artistic interpretation of an uplifting ballad. At its core, it is fundamentally a deeply personal assertion of self-love and emotional rebirth that hits right.

From the outset, TaniA’s voice trembles sincerely, soaring effortlessly through a meticulously stripped-back arrangement that deliberately foregrounds her message to take center stage. Her angelic harmonies envelop the listener, creating a comforting and powerful embrace. The inclusion of collaborative vocal harmonies provided by her husband, Rynellton, introduces an intimate dimension, fostering a collective aspiration for healing that amplifies the emotional significance, enhancing the overall impact of the narrative.

Lyrically, “I AM Good Enough” addresses the psychological consequences of abuse and self-doubt, illuminating the often-silenced struggles of diminished self-esteem. The song conveys a message of triumph, encouraging a reconceptualization of self-worth. With every intriguing note, TaniA affirms that liberation is attainable when individuals cease to accept the false narratives that try to define them as not enough. TaniA channels her experiences into a performance that feels deeply empathetic and human, as though she’s singing directly to the parts of us we’ve forgotten how to love.

The unvarnished authenticity of “I AM Good Enough” distinguishes it within contemporary music. The fourth single from her forthcoming album, ‘Free-Spirited,’ is a pivotal reminder to confront and process past traumas while reclaiming one’s intrinsic worth. Through her artistry, TaniA Kyllikki elevates musicality beyond mere entertainment, forging potent anthems that are essential lifelines for the weary. For anyone seeking validation or needing a sign to love themselves a little more, “I AM Good Enough” provides the necessary and timely sonic remedy for healing. It’s a reminder that our scars don’t define us, and others don’t dictate our values.

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For more information about TaniA Kyllikki, please visit [website]. 
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