The payment rates offered by streaming platforms are not determined by eMastered, and we have no authority to modify them. Our role is to forward the exact amount each service pays us.
eMastered consistently pays out 100% of what the services report for your streams and sales, minus any relevant fees and any taxes that apply.
Why Do Streaming Rates Differ?
The variation in streaming payouts stems from numerous factors, and each platform uses its own approach to calculate what an artist earns. These factors can include, but aren’t limited to:
Number of streams or downloads
Geographic region of the listener
Type of user account (free or premium)
Revenue from ads or subscriptions
Understanding the Pro Rata Model
Most platforms follow a "pro rata" system to divide earnings. Under this model, the revenue from a specific subscription level is pooled together, and a portion is set aside to pay artists. That portion is then divided among tracks based on the percentage of total streams each song received during that period.
For instance: If a platform has $1,000 in artist payout funds from its premium tier, which generated 10 million streams that month, and your track was streamed 1,500 times, your payout would be: 1,500/10,000,000 * $1,000 = $0.15
Note: This is an example for illustration purposes only and doesn’t reflect how any actual service operates.
Streams vs Digital Sales
When it comes to services that offer digital purchases instead of streams, the norm is for the service to take a cut—usually up to 30%—and give the remaining 70% to the artist. That percentage can change depending on the platform.