Spotify paid record Ksh.1.3 trillion to musicians in 2024

Global audio streaming giant Spotify has announced that it paid a record-breaking $10 billion (approximately Ksh.1.3 trillion) to the music industry in 2024 alone.

In a blog post published on Tuesday, David Kaefar, Spotify’s VP and Head of Music Business, highlighted the company’s growing financial contributions, revealing that this latest payout is a significant portion of the nearly $60 billion (approximately Ksh.7.8 trillion) Spotify has disbursed since its inception.

“In 2014, global recorded music revenues hit a low of $13 billion, with Spotify contributing around $1 billion at the time. Back then, we had just 15 million paying subscribers,” Kaefar noted. “Fast forward to 2024, and we’ve paid out a record $10 billion in a single year.”

With over 500 million people worldwide now subscribing to music streaming services, Kaefar emphasized the next big goal: reaching 1 billion paying listeners.

He also pointed out Spotify’s growing impact on artists' earnings, noting: “A decade ago, around 10,000 artists were making at least $10,000 (approx. Ksh.1.3 million) per year from Spotify. Today, well over 10,000 artists are generating more than $100,000 (approx. Ksh.13 million) annually from Spotify alone.”

Kaefar further referenced industry reports to highlight Spotify’s unique role in the streaming economy.

He stated that, according to a report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) last year’s, Spotify accounted for about one-third of global recorded streaming revenue.

However, a recent MIDiA Research study focusing on independent labels and distributors found that Spotify represents more than half of all streaming revenue for indie artists.

“This shows that Spotify’s model is creating more opportunities for artists, allowing them to build sustainable careers in music and driving real change across the industry,” Kaefar said.