The music-streaming giant has long been the target of criticism from artists about paltry payments, but said it doled out record royalties last year.

Nearly 1,500 artists generated more than $1 million in royalties from Spotify in 2024, the company said in its annual Loud and Clear Report. Spotify said more than 80% of the artists in that pool did not have a song reach the app's Global Daily Top 50 Chart.

Spotify paid $10 billion to the music industry last year, with $4.5 billion to publishers across 2023-24. So why are songwriters still struggling?

It's no secret that Spotify isn't a big money maker for most artists. But, in its annual Loud & Clear report, the music streamer is trying to change the narrative, reiterating an earlier claim that it paid artists $10 billion in 2024 ($60 million since launching) and adding that these payments increased tenfold over the last 10 years.

Spotify has released its Loud & Clear breakdown for 2024, when 1,450 artists are said to have generated (but not necessarily pocketed) over $1 million in combined recording and publishing royalties from on-platform streams.

Spotify said on Wednesday it paid $10 billion in royalties in 2024, the largest payout to the music industry in a single year. Nearly 1,500 artists earned over $1 million in royalties from Spotify last year,

Taylor Swift’s earlier concerns about streaming royalties take a turn as Spotify announces record-breaking payouts

Spotify said on Wednesday it paid $10 billion in royalties in 2024, the largest payout to the music industry in a single year. Julian Satterthwaite reports. The scientists trying to save the fewer tha