Alongside industry giants Spotify and Apple Music, TIDAL offers another digital distribution option for musicians.
With digital streaming platforms transforming the way that music is consumed and monetised, a common discussion point is around how much music streaming services pay musicians. But how much does this arguably more artist-friendly alternative pay out for your streams? Let’s dive into all things TIDAL.
What is TIDAL?
TIDAL is a digital music streaming service with a catalogue of over 80 million songs and 350,000 videos from music artists all over the world.
With the company’s mission focusing around empowering artists and building better connections between them and their fans, TIDAL is committed to changing the way artists are paid - including providing higher and more transparent payments for their work.
TIDAL is often viewed as a fairer and higher quality option for artists, but how much exactly does this platform pay out to musicians?
How much does TIDAL pay per stream?
On average, TIDAL pays out around $0.013 per stream in 2024. TIDAL is one of the select few streaming services which pays out more than 1 cent per stream, with artists needing roughly 80 streams to earn a dollar and 80,000 streams to earn $1000 (roughly £880).
Direct Artist Payouts
On top of providing artists with higher streaming payments, TIDAL also offers a direct-to-artist payment incentive - its Direct Artists Payout program.
"Direct Artist Payouts are an innovative way for fans to more directly support their top streamed artists with HiFi Plus every month" - TIDAL
TIDAL Royalty Calculator
Similar to our guides on Spotify payouts and Apple Music royalties, the exact amount of money that artists can make through music royalties on TIDAL is impossible to say, but our TIDAL Royalty Calculator can give you a general idea of how much you can potentially earn for your streams.
Interested to see how much you could be earning by releasing your music and getting streamed on TIDAL? Check out our calculator below:
NOTE: THE ROYALTIES PREDICTED BY THIS CALCULATOR WILL NOT BE 100% ACCURATE. IT IS AN ESTIMATE - BASED ON FIGURES FROM THE USA. MANY FACTORS AFFECT STREAMING ROYALTIES AND THIS CALCULATOR SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS A GUIDE.
Does TIDAL pay more than Spotify or Apple Music?
A common understanding within the music industry is that TIDAL offers some of the highest streaming rates within the streaming industry, with their artist-focussed model and more expensive subscriptions for users.
This is reflected in the higher payment per stream rate paid out by the Norwegian-American company, as opposed to Spotify and Apple Music.
Spotify pays artists between $0.003 - $0.005 per stream on average, with just under 23,000 streams of your tracks needed to recieve $100 in payment.
In 2024, Apple Music pays artists $0.01 per stream on average - so essentially equalling 1 penny earned per stream.
TIDAL ranks higher than both Spotify and Apple Music in terms of royalty rate and the direct artist payouts available on the platform. It's definitely worth weighing up your options when deciding which DSP(s) to upload your music to.
What affects the TIDAL royalty rate?
Location of your listeners
There are a few different factors that affect Tidal's payout rate. One of these is the location of your listeners. For example, if your fans are streaming your music in Brazil (R$16.90/month) as opposed to the US ($9.99/month), then you'll receive less solely because of the lower subscription cost and currency value in that country.
Who you distribute with
In the same way that other music platforms operate, the royalties you receive from TIDAL are based on your record label or distributor deals. The amount you'll receive is dependent on which distribution company you're working with - and how much of a cut they're wanting to take!
At Ditto Music, we want to see you get the most out of your music career, which is why we work with artists to put 100% of all your royalty earnings back into your own pocket.
TIDAL subscription option
On top of the industry-leading rate per stream payments, TIDAL offers further financial incentives to artists using the platform through it's HiFi Plus subscription.
HiFi Plus gives you everything HiFi offers, as well as access to Master Quality Audio recordings and innovative spatial formats like Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 reality audio.
In addition to higher quality sound for the user, this plan also pays out 10% of your subscription to your most listened to artist and lets you track how your listening habits fund your favourite artists. HiFi plus costs $/£19.99 per month.
How to make more money from your TIDAL streams
As with any other streaming platform, the more streams you're able to generate for your music on TIDAL, then the more chance you'll be able to increase your royalty income from streams on the platform.
If you're able to boost your brand and popularity, then more users may choose to subscribe to HiFi Plus and send more of a share back to you as the artist. As with most factors in the music industry, this will come from you having a strong artist marketing strategy.
TIDAL is definitely an appealing alternative to other streaming platforms and has the potential to provide you with a bigger share of your hard-earnt streams.
As a music industry enthusiast and expert, my knowledge encompasses various facets, including digital music distribution, streaming platforms, artist royalties, and the evolving landscape of music monetization. I've closely followed the developments and trends within the industry, keeping abreast of streaming platforms' payout structures and their impact on artists' earnings.
Regarding TIDAL, it stands out among digital streaming services due to its commitment to artist empowerment and transparent payment mechanisms. TIDAL boasts a vast catalog, offering over 80 million songs and 350,000 videos from global artists. The platform's mission revolves around fostering stronger connections between artists and their fan base while ensuring fairer compensation for musicians.
In terms of royalties, TIDAL's average payout per stream in 2024 is approximately $0.013. This rate positions TIDAL as one of the few platforms paying more than one cent per stream, providing artists with a comparatively higher earning potential. Additionally, TIDAL features a Direct Artist Payout program, allowing fans to directly support their favorite artists.
To gauge potential earnings, TIDAL offers a Royalty Calculator, although it provides estimations rather than precise figures due to various influencing factors. Comparatively, TIDAL's per-stream payout surpasses that of Spotify, which typically pays between $0.003 to $0.005, and Apple Music, averaging $0.01 per stream in 2024.
Several factors affect TIDAL's royalty rates, such as the geographical location of listeners and the subscription plans they choose. The platform's HiFi Plus subscription, costing $/£19.99 per month, not only offers enhanced audio quality but also allocates 10% of the subscription fee to the most-listened-to artist, enabling users to support their favored musicians directly.
Maximizing earnings on TIDAL involves generating higher stream counts through effective artist marketing strategies. Increased popularity and brand visibility can attract more subscribers to TIDAL's premium plans, potentially translating to a larger share of streaming revenue for artists.
In summary, TIDAL distinguishes itself by offering a more artist-centric model, higher royalty rates per stream, and innovative features aimed at fostering a direct connection between artists and their audience. This platform presents an enticing alternative for musicians seeking fairer compensation and stronger engagement with their fan base in the digital streaming landscape.
