Apple Music Royalty Calculator
Calculate your estimated Apple Music royalties. Estimate earnings per stream, factor in distributor fees, collaborator splits, and taxes to plan your music revenue.
Music Streaming Revenue Details
Enter your stream counts, rates, and splits to calculate your estimated Apple Music earnings
Total number of streams you generate per month on Apple Music.
How many months of streaming do you want to calculate?
Apple Music typically pays between £0.006 and £0.008 per stream.
Percentage taken by your distributor (e.g., DistroKid, TuneCore). Enter 0 if they charge an annual flat fee instead.
Percentage of net revenue paid to featured artists, producers, or songwriters.
Estimated income tax rate applied to your royalty earnings (e.g., UK basic rate 20%).
Apple Music Royalty Results
Estimated net earnings from your Apple Music streams
Enter your stream counts, rates, and splits above, then click Calculate Royalties to see your estimated earnings.
Streaming Platform Royalty Benchmarks
Understanding average payouts helps you set realistic revenue expectations across different music streaming services in the UK.
| Streaming Platform | Avg Pay Per Stream | Context / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Music | £0.006 – £0.008 | Higher than most platforms; driven by premium-only subscribers. |
| Tidal | £0.008 – £0.012 | Known for high-fidelity audio and artist-friendly payouts. |
| Amazon Music | £0.004 – £0.005 | Competitive rates, varies by subscription tier (Prime vs Unlimited). |
| Spotify | £0.002 – £0.003 | Largest market share, but lower per-stream rate due to ad-supported tiers. |
| YouTube Music | £0.0005 – £0.001 | Lower payouts, heavily dependent on ad revenue and Premium shares. |
Music Royalties FAQ
Everything you need to know about streaming payouts, distributor fees, and collecting your music royalties in the UK.
Apple Music typically pays between £0.006 and £0.008 per stream in the UK, though this can fluctuate based on the listener’s subscription type, region, and the total revenue pool. It is generally considered one of the highest-paying major streaming platforms.
Apple Music uses a pro-rata model where all subscription revenue is pooled together. The money is then distributed to rights holders based on their share of total streams. Your specific payout per stream depends on your distributor’s terms, any collaborator splits, and whether the streams come from paid or free trial subscribers.
No, the per-stream rate can vary. Streams from paid premium subscribers generally generate more revenue than streams from ad-supported or free trial users. Additionally, streams from different countries have different payout rates based on local subscription pricing and purchasing power.
Most digital distributors pay out royalties on a monthly or quarterly basis, typically with a delay of 2 to 3 months. For example, streams generated in January might be reported by Apple Music in March and paid out by your distributor in April or May.
The best distributor depends on your needs. DistroKid and TuneCore charge an annual fee but take 0% of your royalties, making them ideal for frequent releasers. CD Baby and Amuse take a percentage cut (or offer premium tiers) but may provide better upfront support or physical distribution options.