The “Premium” Payout: Where Fewer Streams Mean More Money
Welcome back. Last week, we covered the high-volume, high-threshold world of Spotify. This week, we are pivoting to its biggest rival: Apple Music.
Apple Music operates on a fundamentally different philosophy. There is no free tier. Every listener is a paying subscriber (or on a verified trial). This single fact changes everything about how you get paid.
The Hard Numbers: Royalty Per Stream
Because Apple doesn’t have to dilute its pool with ad-supported “free” streams, their average payout is significantly higher than Spotify’s.
- Average Payout: $0.007 – $0.01 per stream.
- The Translation: You need roughly 100–150 streams to earn $1.00 (compared to Spotify’s ~250).
The “No Threshold” Advantage
Unlike Spotify, Apple Music does NOT have a 1,000-stream threshold. If you get 50 streams, you get paid for 50 streams. This makes Apple Music a much friendlier ecosystem for developing artists who are just starting to build their fan base. Every stream counts from day one.
Quick Easter Egg
Dr. Wilson Joel also known as the ‘musicmagnate’ joined Yivera as a Non-Executive Director effective December 8th, 2025. musicmagnate was a former Music Director of The Experience Lagos, a position he championed for 9 years. He is also a music producer, songwriter, and composer with credits ranging from artists (TY Bello, Judith Sephuma, Sinach, etc.), to movies (Hakkunde, Tango with Me, etc), UMG, Apple, Sony Music, etc.
Dr. Joel is a member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs®), a senior member of the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), member of the ForbesBLK, and a World Culture Festival Ambassador.
Dr. Joel provides strategic oversight, and ensures Yivera continues to uphold our legal and ethical standards in all services provided to independent artists and rights owners.
Revenue Expectations: The Reality Check
Because the rate is higher, your dashboard looks healthier with fewer numbers. Here is what the payout scale looks like:
| Stream Count | Estimated Revenue | The Verdict |
| 1,000 | ~$8.00 – $10.00 | Double the Value. On Spotify, this would be ~$4. On Apple, it’s a decent lunch. |
| 5,000 | $40.00 – $50.00 | Bill Money. You are earning enough to cover small recurring artist expenses (distributor fees, website hosting). |
| 10,000 | $80.00 – $100.00 | Real Revenue. 10k streams on Apple feels financially similar to 25k+ on Spotify. |
Promotion: How to Drive Traffic
Apple Music’s algorithm is less aggressive than Spotify’s. It relies heavily on human curation and editorial playlists. This means “passive” discovery is harder; you have to drive fans to the platform actively.
1. The “Pre-Add” Feature
On Spotify, you “Pre-save.” On Apple Music, you “Pre-add.” When a fan “Pre-adds” your album, it instantly appears in their library on release day. Apple’s algorithm gives “Library Adds” more consideration. A high number of Pre-adds signals to Apple that your track is worth editorial placement.
When setting up your smart link, ensure the “Apple Music Pre-add” button is at the very top, alongside “Spotify Pre-Save.”
2. Milestone Social Sharing
Apple has a fantastic backend for artists that provides custom, shareable assets. When you hit a new peak (e.g., 1,000 Plays in South Africa), the app generates a sleek, professional graphic for you to share on Instagram/Twitter. Sharing these shows Apple (and your fans) that you are active on their platform.
3. The Visual Hook: Motion Art
Apple Music prioritises aesthetics. Apple allows for “Motion Art” on artist profiles and album pages. If you have the budget or skills to animate your cover art (even a subtle loop), upload it. It gives your profile a Major Label quality, which appeals to Apple’s editorial curators.
4. Lyrics are Mandatory
Apple pays huge attention to lyrics (think: Apple Music Sing). Ensure your distributor sends synced lyrics. Fans reading/singing along effectively keep them on your song longer, boosting your retention rates.
The Takeaway
Apple Music is about quality over quantity. You don’t need to chase viral trends or bot-like volume here. You need a dedicated fanbase that adds your music to their library.
If you have 1,000 loyal fans, push them to Apple Music. You will earn double the revenue compared to sending them to Spotify, and you won’t have to worry about hitting a minimum threshold to get paid.
Next Week: We look at Audiomack—the platform that changed the game for offline listening and emerging markets.
