How Much Do I Earn Per Stream on Apple Music (2026 Edition)

Apple Music has long been known for paying artists more per stream than many other platforms. But how much do you actually earn per stream on Apple Music in 2026? At Tools 4 Music, we've analyzed comprehensive streaming data to give you the real numbers.

In this article, you'll learn:

Our Data

The figures in this analysis are based on real earnings data from 2025. The global average pay-per-stream on Apple Music is $0.00735 (approximately $7,350 per million streams). This makes Apple Music one of the highest-paying streaming platforms available.

Apple Music vs. The $0.01 Promise

Apple has previously stated that they pay artists approximately one cent per stream. Our data shows the global average is slightly below this at $0.00735, though many premium markets do exceed the $0.01 threshold. The variation depends heavily on the listener's country and subscription type.

Top Paying Countries

Apple Music rates vary significantly by country. Here are some of the markets with the highest pay-per-stream rates:

Why Apple Music Pays More

Several factors contribute to Apple Music's higher per-stream rates:

Apple Music vs. Spotify

Comparing the two major platforms:

This means Apple Music pays approximately 3.3x more per stream than Spotify on average. However, Spotify has a larger user base, so total earnings depend on where your listeners are.

Calculate Your Apple Music Earnings

Want to know exactly how much you could earn from your Apple Music streams? Use our Apple Music Royalty Calculator to get accurate estimates based on your stream counts.

For multi-platform calculations comparing Apple Music with Spotify, YouTube, and 38 other platforms, try our Streaming Royalty Calculator.

How Apple Music's Payment Model Works

Unlike Spotify's pro-rata pooling system, Apple Music uses a per-play payment model. This means each individual stream has a value based on the listener's subscription type and country, and that value goes directly to the rights holder of the track played. Apple does not pool all revenue and then divide it by total platform streams.

This per-play model is one reason Apple Music pays more than Spotify on average. When a premium subscriber in the United States plays your song, you receive a rate based on that specific subscription's value divided by that listener's total plays, rather than being diluted by the entire platform's listening activity.

Apple Music Subscription Tiers

Apple Music offers several subscription plans, each contributing differently to the royalty pool:

Premium individual subscribers in high-income countries like the US, UK, and Japan generate the highest per-stream payouts. This is why targeting these markets can significantly increase your average earnings.

Spatial Audio and Lossless: Do They Affect Earnings?

Apple Music has invested heavily in Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio quality. While Apple has not officially confirmed that Spatial Audio tracks earn higher royalties, there are indications that Apple promotes Spatial Audio content more aggressively through editorial playlists and featured placements. Artists who release Spatial Audio mixes may benefit from increased visibility and, consequently, more streams.

If you have access to Dolby Atmos mixing capabilities, consider releasing Spatial Audio versions of your tracks. Even if the per-stream rate is identical, the additional promotion from Apple can drive meaningful stream volume.

Tips to Maximize Your Apple Music Earnings

Key Takeaways

Understanding Apple Music's payment structure can help you make strategic decisions about where to focus your marketing efforts and how to maximize your streaming revenue.