Spotify Says It Paid Out $11B in 2025—And Pitches a Big Picture for Artists

Spotify says it paid $11B to the music industry in 2025 and continues positioning its data around payouts and discovery.

For indie artists, the practical takeaway is still the same: maximize conversion moments (save, follow, merch, ticket clicks), because "streams alone" is rarely a plan.

The headline number is impressive, but per-stream rates remain a challenge for smaller artists—making diversified revenue streams essential.