Ever wondered how much Spotify streams one needs to earn minimum wage?

Digital Music News calculated how many streams an artist needs to earn minimum wage in the U.S. The numbers may vary widely from state to state - with a minimum of six digits if you want to make a real buck - so don't give up your day job just yet...

For their calculations DMN took Spotify's self-reported average royalty rate of $0.00492. Which is generous given the fact that artists themselves report receiving anywhere between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream. DMN used an average 40 hour workweek to calculated how much someone will make on minimum wage. On the federal minimum wage of $7,25 p/h this comes down to $1200 a month, which translates to 235.773 streams a month, a pretty significant amount! In states with a higher minimum wage, like Washington DC with $15 p/h, an artist will need even more streams to make minimum wage; 487.805.


These numbers don't take into account costs like studio time, marketing or a manager taking a cut. So in reality, an artists would need way more streams to make a living wage...


You can find an overview of how many streams you need state by state down here:

  • Arkansas – $11 per hour – 357.724 streams per month

  • California – $14 per hour – 455.285 streams per month

  • Colorado – $12.32 per hour – 400.651 streams per month

  • Connecticut – $13 per hour – 422.765 streams per month

  • Delaware – $10.25 per hour – 333.333 streams per month

  • Washington D.C. – $15 per hour – 487.805 streams per month

  • Florida – $10.00 per hour – 325.204 streams per month

  • Georgia – $7.25 per hour – 235.773 streams per month

  • Hawaii – $10.10 per hour – 328.456 streams per month

  • Idaho – $7.25 per hour – 235.773 streams per month

  • Illinois – $11.00 per hour – 357.724 streams per month

  • Indiana – $7.25 per hour – 235.773 streams per month

  • Iowa – $7.25 per hour – 235.773 streams per month

  • Kansas – $7.25 per hour – 235.773 streams per month

  • Kentucky – $7.25 per hour – 235.773 streams per month

  • Louisiana – $7.25 per hour – 235.773 streams per month

  • Maine – $12.15 per hour – 395.122 streams per month

  • Maryland – $11.75 per hour – 382.114 streams per month

  • Massachusetts – $13.50 per hour – 439.025 streams per month

  • Michigan – $9.65 per hour – 313.822 streams per month

  • Minnesota – $10.08 per hour – 327.805 streams per month

  • Mississippi – $7.25 per hour – 235.773 streams per month

  • Missouri – $10.30 per hour – 334,960 streams per month

  • Montana – $8.75 per hour – 284,553 streams per month

  • Nebraska – $9 per hour – 292,683 streams per month

  • Nevada – $8.75 per hour – 284,553 streams per month

  • New Hampshire – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • New Jersey – $12.00 per hour – 390,244 streams per month

  • New Mexico – $10.50 per hour – 341,464 streams per month

  • New York – $12.50 per hour – 406,505 streams per month

  • North Carolina – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • Ohio – $8.80 per hour – 286,179 streams per month

  • Oklahoma – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • Oregon – $12.75 per hour – 414,635 streams per month

  • Pennsylvania – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • Rhode Island – $11.50 per hour – 373,984 streams per month

  • South Carolina – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • South Dakota – $9.45 per hour – 307,318 streams per month

  • Tennessee – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • Texas – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • Utah – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • Vermont – $11.75 per hour – 382,113 streams per month

  • Virginia – $9.50 per hour – 308,944 streams per month

  • Washington – $13.69 per hour – 445,204 streams per month

  • West Virginia – $8.75 per hour – 284,553 streams per month

  • Wisconsin – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

  • Wyoming – $7.25 per hour – 235,773 streams per month

 

Source: Digital Music News

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