2015 simple BACKUPplatformartist dealformatRetail priceTo earn min wage: solo musicianlabel cutdistributor + retailerartist+writer cutnotestreaming site subscribersvalue index 2sourcevalue index 1before taxsales / plays per monthartist revenuesee 2015 full for working and sources.(subscribers / no. of plays to hit minimum wage)(subscribers * price per stream)$$1,260.00$Manufacturing and production costs are included in label cut for label artists and artist cut for DIY artistsAmazon MP3with label & publishing companySingle track download$0.9911,364$0.1108800058.80%30%11.20%Retailer takes 30% approxBandcampDIY artistAlbum download$10.00148$8.50000000015%85.0%BeatsDIY artiststream70,000$0.01801000040%60%Streaming provider takes 30% (estimate), distributor takes 10% (average of ReverbNation, CD Baby, TuneCore200,0002.94DeezerDIY artiststreamn/a94,030$0.01300000040%60%Streaming provider takes 30% (estimate), distributor takes 10% (average of ReverbNation, CD Baby, TuneCore16,000,000170208Deezerwith label & publishing companystreamn/a1,044,430$0.0010000055%25%20%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. 17% artists and songwriters, 46% labels, 21% distributors+retailers,16% is VAT tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml 16,000,0001516DIY CD album sold through CD BabyDIY artistAlbum CD$12.00175$7.20000000033%60.0%DIY direct sale of CD albumDIY artistAlbum CD$12.00105$12.0000000000100%Google Playwith label & publishing companySingle track download$1.0011,398$0.1105440058.80%30%11.05%Retailer takes 30% approxGoogle PlayDIY artiststreamn/a27,553$0.04573000040%60%Streaming provider takes 30% (estimate), distributor takes 10% (average of ReverbNation, CD Baby, TuneCoren/aGoogle Playwith label & publishing companystreamn/a172,206$0.0073168055%25%20%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. 17% artists and songwriters, 46% labels, 21% distributors+retailers,16% is VAT tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml n/aiTunesDIY artistAlbum download$9.99182$6.9300000040%60.0%iTunes takes approximately 30%, distributor (eg ReverbNation, CDBaby, TuneCore etc) approximately 10% iTuneswith label & publishing companyAlbum download$9.991,126$1.1188800054%30%11.2%iTunesDIY artistSingle track download$0.991,586$0.79433333020%80.2%average of CD Baby, TuneCore, ReverbNationiTunes (also AmazonMP3, Google Play are similar)with label & publishing companySingle track download$0.9911,364$0.1108800058.80%30%11.20%Retailer takes 30% approxRdioDIY artiststreamn/a177,465$0.00692000040%60%Streaming provider takes 30% (estimate), distributor takes 10% (average of ReverbNation, CD Baby, TuneCoreRdiowith label & publishing companystreamn/a1,138,006$0.0011072055%25%20%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. 17% artists and songwriters, 46% labels, 21% distributors+retailers,16% is VAT tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml retail album CD (average royalty deal - new figure)with record label & publishing companywith record label & publishing company$12.00818$1.5447%30%23%Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23840744 http://www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2013/jul/15/spotify-musicians-money-thom-yorkeCalculations0.7000#VALUE!http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23840744http://www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2013/jul/15/spotify-musicians-money-thom-yorkeretail album CD (average royalty deal - old figure)with label & publishing companyAlbum CD$12.001,615$0.7800000023%18%7%If it's a major label the label sometimes will distribute themselves; if it's indie it's 12-24% - see http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/1565541/how-five-indie-labels-are-trying-to-change-the-major. retail album CD (high-end royalty deal)with label & publishing companyAlbum CD$12.001,050$1.2000000020%17%10%If it's a major label the label sometimes will distribute themselves; if it's indie it's 12-24% - see http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/1565541/how-five-indie-labels-are-trying-to-change-the-major. retail album CD (low royalty deal)with label & publishing companyAlbum CD$12.004,200$0.3000000027%18%3%If it's a major label the label sometimes will distribute themselves; if it's indie it's 12-24% - see http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/1565541/how-five-indie-labels-are-trying-to-change-the-major. RhapsodyDIY artiststreamn/a104,132$0.00110000040%60%Streaming provider takes 30% (estimate), distributor takes 10% (average of ReverbNation, CD Baby, TuneCore2,000,00019http://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2014/07/29/rhapsody-tops-2-million-paid-subscribers-globally/2Rhapsodywith label & publishing companystreamn/a701,872$0.0112200055%25%20%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. 17% artists and songwriters, 46% labels, 21% distributors+retailers,16% is VAT tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml 2,000,0002.822Self-distributed download albumDIY artistAlbum download$9.99140$8.9903000000.100070070190.0%average of iTunes via ReverbNation, CD Baby, TuneCoreSpotifyDIY artiststreamn/a192,308$0.00700000040%60%Streaming provider takes 30% (estimate), distributor takes 10% (average of ReverbNation, CD Baby, TuneCore60,000,000312https://press.spotify.com/uk/information/420Spotifywith label & publishing companystreamn/a1,093,750$0.0011280055%25%20%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. 17% artists and songwriters, 46% labels, 21% distributors+retailers,16% is VAT tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml 60,000,00055https://press.spotify.com/uk/information/68Tidal (formerly WiMP)with record label & publishing companystream184,859$0.0070000055%25%20%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. 17% artists and songwriters, 46% labels, 21% distributors+retailers,16% is VAT tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml 5000002.7http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/31/jay-z-spotify-music-streaming-relaunch-tidal-support-artist4Tidal (formerly WiMP) DIY artiststream29,577$0.04300000040%60%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. Remaining 16% is tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml 500,00017http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/31/jay-z-spotify-music-streaming-relaunch-tidal-support-artist22Amazon Cloud - what;s the diff. between Amazon (above) and Amazon Cloud?independentstreamn/a10,500,000$0.0001200017%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. Remaining 16% is tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml Amazon Cloudwith label & publishing companystreamn/a65,625,000$0.0000192017%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. Remaining 16% is tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml US minimum wage: approx. $1,260 (40-hour week at Federal Wage baseline 2013 of $7.25 / hour, varies by state)YouTubeDIY artiststreamn/a720,000$0.00175000080%20%YouTube takes 45%, Audiam 25%1,000,000,00013891,750YouTubewith label & publishing companystreamn/a4,500,000$0.0002800055%25%20%Estimates applied to all streaming services across the board. Assumes a band where artists are also songwriters. 17% artists and songwriters, 46% labels, 21% distributors+retailers,16% is VAT tax. Based on source: SNEP / Ernst and Young February 2015 https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150204/07310329906/yes-major-record-labels-are-keeping-nearly-all-money-they-get-spotify-rather-than-giving-it-to-artists.shtml 1,000,000,000222280

2013 dataartist typeformatRetail priceRetailerLabelArtistPublisherSongwriterchecksumTo earn min wage: solo musicianSQRTTo earn min wage: solo musician who also wrote songsRecord LabelArtistRecord LabelROYALTIESrecordingsongwritingSALESUS minimum wage: approx. $1,260 (40-hour week at Federal Wage baseline 2013 of $7.25 / hour, varies by state)content provider / outlet / store cutrevenue (what they get)label cutlabel revenueartist cutartist revenuepublisher cutwhat they get per sale / playsongwriter cutwhat they get per sale / playsales / plays per monthsales / plays per monthperformance royalty cut i.e. record label; artist; supportingartist performance royalty cutlabel performance royalty cut$ paid per play/stream for total royalties$ paid per play/stream for performance royalties$ paid per play/stream for mechanical royaltiessolo - sales needed to make $100solo - sales/plays needed to earn minimum yearly wageband sales/plays needed per month to earn minimum wageband sales/plays needed per year to earn minimum wagemonthly subscriptionyearly subscription# streams a monthly subscription pays for# streams a yearly subscription pays fornotelink 1link 2link 3link 4link 5$%$%$%$$$$1,260.00$1,260.00% of retail price% of performance royalties% of performance royalties$, paid by content provider$, paid by content provider$, paid by content provider$15,121.434 members4 members$$self-pressed CD albumindependentAlbum CD$9.990-00$100%$9.99n/an/a12611126-100%-n/an/an/a101,5145056,054----CD BabyindependentAlbum CD$9.9940%$4.00--$5.99n/an/a21014210---n/an/an/a172,52384110,090----$49 one-off fee to CD Baby per album; revenue = chosen purchase price (for comparison set at $9.99 here) minus $4 which goes to CD Babyhttp://members.cdbaby.com/cd-baby-cost.aspxretail album CD (high end royalty deal)with record label & publishing companyAlbum CD$9.99----$1.000.00460.00461,261361,256-10%