Spotify released its annual Loud & Clear report on Wednesday, highlighting what the streaming service describes as a more global music industry with increasing opportunities for creators worldwide.
Global Reach Expands for Musicians
The report indicates that artists from 75 countries generated at least $500,000 in streaming royalties in the last year, an increase from 66 countries the year prior. Spotify as well noted that roughly half of an average artist’s streams now originate from outside their home country.
“It’s been exciting to watch the business transform over the last 20 years and help music become less centralized,” said Joe Hadley, Spotify’s global head of music partnerships and audience.
Genre Diversity on the Rise
The report also showed a broadening of musical genres gaining international traction. Songs in 16 different languages appeared on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart in 2025, double the number from 2020. Brazilian funk and K-Pop were identified as the fastest-growing genres, each earning over $100 million on the platform last year.
According to Hadley, “Music is more global than ever… K-Pop is no longer niche. Afrobeat is global music, Mexicana is exploding. Brazilian funk is one of the fastest growing genres on Spotify.”
Spotify’s total payouts to the music industry surpassed $11 billion in 2025, a $1 billion increase from the previous year. The number of artists earning at least $100,000 from Spotify increased by 1,400, reaching a total of 13,800. Approximately one-third of artists earning at least $10,000 annually were identified as DIY or having started as DIY artists.
Despite these gains, Spotify acknowledged that millions of songs on the platform receive fewer than 1,000 streams—the minimum required for a payout—indicating that breaking through remains a challenge for most artists.
“Building a career in music has never been easy,” Hadley stated. “Nearly 70 percent of our music revenue goes back to the industry… When the artists grow, we grow, and we grow when they earn more.”
Spotify also reported its largest annual music publishing payout to date, having distributed $5 billion to publishers over the past two years. This announcement follows a 2024 dispute with music publishers regarding royalty payments and a controversial bundling strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spotify’s Loud & Clear report?
Spotify’s Loud & Clear report is an annual update on the economics of music streaming, intended to provide transparency about royalty payments and the streaming ecosystem.
How many artists earned over $100,000 on Spotify in 2025?
More than 13,800 artists generated at least $100,000 from Spotify in 2025, an increase of 1,400 from the prior year.
What genres are experiencing significant growth on Spotify?
Brazilian funk and K-Pop were identified as the fastest-growing genres on Spotify, each earning over $100 million on the platform last year.
As the music landscape continues to evolve, what role will streaming platforms play in supporting a diverse and sustainable ecosystem for artists worldwide?
