Spotify Paid a Record $11 Billion to the Music Industry — Why Do Many Artists Still Struggle?

The debate isn't about Spotify's total payouts, but how royalties reach musicians, as most payments go to rights holders, not directly to artists. (Credit: Pixabay/AS_Photography)

Spotify has never paid more money to the music industry.

The streaming giant says it distributed a record more than $11 billion (£8.1 billion) in royalties during 2025, marking another milestone as it approaches $70 billion in lifetime payouts. The company also says more artists than ever are earning substantial incomes through its platform.