What’s Really Going on With Music Royalties in 2025

If you’re a musician, songwriter, or rights holder in 2025, you’ve probably asked yourself the same question:
“Why am I getting paid so little from streaming?”

You’re not imagining things – the system really has changed. A lot. And if you’re not staying on top of it, you’re probably leaving money on the table.

How Streaming Changed the Royalty Game

Back in the day, things were simple. You sold CDs, got a cut. Sold a download, got a cut.
But now? Most of your income comes from streams – and that money moves differently.

Streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and YouTube don’t pay per song. They pay based on total platform revenue, subscriber type, location of the listener, and your share of all streams on the service.

That means 1,000 streams in the U.S. might earn you $4, while 1,000 in India earns you less than $1.
Oh, and if you don’t hit 1,000 plays in a year, Spotify won’t pay anything at all. That’s their new policy starting in 2024.

Where the Money Actually Goes

Let’s say your track gets streamed. Here’s how the payout gets sliced up:

• A cut goes to the streaming platform
• Another cut to your label or distributor
• Then comes the songwriter
• The publisher
• Maybe a producer
• Hopefully you, too

That’s before we even talk about performance rights or mechanical royalties.
It’s a long chain – and every link takes a percentage.

New Models Are Emerging – But They’re Not Easy

Some artists are skipping labels and uploading directly to platforms. Others are selling their tracks as NFTs, or licensing them via blockchain platforms that promise faster payments and fewer middlemen.

Sounds good, right?

Yes, but there’s a catch:
You still need to manage metadata, licensing terms, and make sure the legal side is airtight. Otherwise, you risk getting underpaid – or not paid at all.

What About AI and Smart Contracts?

New tools like smart contracts promise to track streams and send money automatically. No need to wait months for a royalty check.

But here’s the thing: those contracts are only as good as the rules written into them – and most artists don’t write contracts. Lawyers do.

And AI may help identify usage, but if your metadata isn’t correct or registered with the right orgs (like ASCAP, BMI, MLC), the tech can’t help you.

How ChaseLawyers Helps Artists Get Paid

Here’s where we come in.

We’re not just music lawyers – we’re royalty translators.
We help artists, songwriters, indie labels, and catalog owners:

• Understand what royalties they’re entitled to
• Set up direct licensing and registration with PROs
• Review distributor and platform contracts (so you don’t get screwed)
• Track down missing or unpaid royalties
• Negotiate better splits before it’s too late

We’ve worked with everyone from major labels to rising TikTok creators who didn’t even realize they owned the rights to their own content.

If it touches royalties – we’ve done it.

Quick Tip: If You’re an Indie Artist

Don’t assume TuneCore or DistroKid is collecting everything for you.
They may cover some royalties, but they often miss performance or international payments.

• Register with ASCAP or BMI
• Sign up with MLC
• Double-check your ISRC codes and metadata
• Keep a paper trail – it helps in disputes
• If you’ve been streamed over 1,000 times and got nothing – talk to a lawyer

What’s Next?

More changes are coming. New U.S. bills could change how radio stations pay performers. Streaming platforms may adjust their royalty tiers again. Smart contracts might become standard – or crash if they’re not implemented right.

The only constant in music royalties?
If you don’t stay ahead of it, it’ll move without you.

Need legal help with royalties?

Contact us today! Use our contact form, book a consultation, call us at 305 373-7665, or email us at info@chaselawyers.com. Let our team guide you through the process with confidence.

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every scenario is unique, and legal requirements may vary.