Industry Insights

Spotify pays an estimated $0.003 to $0.005 per stream on average in 2026. Based on that range, one million streams could generate approximately $3,000 to $5,000 in gross royalties. That is the useful short answer. However, there is no fixed Spotify payout per stream. How much Spotify pays per stream changes according to factors such as the listener’s country, their subscription type and your share of eligible streams during that period.

Otherworldly, melodic, enchanting. Dream pop takes alternative rock style and makes a sound entirely of its own. With heavy synths, layered vocals, and reverb guitar, the genre can only be described as atmospheric.

It’s 1977, Brian Eno is based in divided Berlin making Heroes with David Bowie. On the very first day of the year, Boston-born artist Donna Summer released a track that would have a significant impact on Eno and Bowie’s creative direction with the album, ‘I Feel Love’, an iconic tune of the disco era.

TikTok is dominating the market, with hits and fast-paced pop going viral repeatedly. Few would have predicted that moody classical music and instrumental soundscapes would make a comeback.

Folktronica is a unique genre that blends traditional folk elements with electronica elements, often including hints of hip-hop, dance, and pop. At its core, folktronica pushes the limits of genre-bending, incorporating futuristic production to the nostalgic roots of folk.

Landing your song on a Spotify Playlist in 2025 is still one of the best and most effective ways to boost your streams, to help your music reach new listeners and to build credibility in the music industry.

If you haven’t seen it yet, the latest viral music video making the rounds on TikTok is from Brendan Abernathy, an American singer-songwriter. It’s a stripped-back live performance of his track “Married in a Year.” The vibe is raw and intimate, his vibrato-soaked voice getting gritty in the high-energy parts, then dropping to a whisper in the quiet moments.

There’s no question that streaming has taken over the music industry. CD and vinyl sales, though important for emerging artists, are no longer a reliable income source. In 2024, physical music sales generated 4.8 billion U.S. dollars, digital music sales made 0.8 billion, but streaming revenues reached 20.4 billion U.S. dollars worldwide, according to two reports by Statista. For better or for worse, audiences are becoming accustomed to instant gratification, and anything that doesn’t offer it is likely to be ignored.

So you’ve dropped a few singles, played some sweaty basement shows, maybe even built a loyal little following online. Things are happening. But there’s still that burning feeling that you’re not quite at the level you should be.

We get it. You’re talented. Your music has the power to change lives. You’re on your way to becoming a rockstar. Amazing. Really. But here’s the thing (as we’ve mentioned before): this is not enough. As an artist, being good at music is the bare minimum. Look, talent is great. But in today’s music industry, talent alone won’t cut it. If you want people to remember your name, stream your tracks, and actually give a damn about your music, you need a brand that slaps.

Spotify recently released its Annual Music Economics Report in an effort to “increase transparency by sharing new data on Spotify’s royalty payments and breaking down the global streaming economy, the players, and the process.” The report does exactly what it says on the tin, covering key aspects such as the streaming giant’s yearly payouts to the music industry, the number of artists generating over $1 million through Spotify and the rise of independent artists. Gaining an insight into the finances of such a huge business is important, and transparency with streaming is great to see considering many artists’ historical disagreements with the service. However, we couldn’t help but notice that Spotify conveniently left out a few crucial details.

In a recent interview with NME, Sam Fender described the music industry as being “rigged”, with “90 per cent kids who are privately educated”. Fender himself has defied the odds, becoming a highly celebrated artist despite his working class background in North Shields. Yet, he acknowledges the immense barriers facing aspiring artists who aren’t born into wealth. “A kid from where I’m from can’t afford to tour, so there are probably thousands writing songs that are ten times better than mine, poignant lyrics about the country, but they will not be seen because it’s rigged,” he said.

So you’ve poured your heart and soul into a track. You wrote the lyrics while staying in an ashram in India, came up with the chords on a family heirloom guitar, recorded the whole thing in a cabin in the woods and put every fibre of your being into this one outstandingly beautiful piece of art. You decide, after years of writing, that you’re going to release this magnum opus into the world.

Facebook and X (or Twitter) have been essential tools for musicians for years. Both huge social media platforms, using at least one of them has essentially been a necessity for the past decade and a half. However, things are changing. We don’t like to get too political over here at Decent, but let’s just say we can understand, due to some recent events, why some people might consider moving over to a newer platform.

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between Decent Music PR and Chartmetric, a leading platform for music data and analytics. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower artists and deliver impactful results in the ever-evolving music industry.

In 2024, the Music Venue Trust (MVT) dealt with 200 emergency response cases, a 19% increase from the previous year. That’s nearly a quarter of their entire membership that reached out for urgent advice and guidance to prevent their venues from closing down. These statistics paint a pretty bleak picture; the UK music industry is facing a crisis. But as streaming becomes the norm for consumers and we increasingly move towards a mainly digital existence, The question is: do we even care enough to save these disappearing spaces?

Lennon & McCartney. Simon & Garfunkel. Ant & Dec. Collaboration between artists has helped create some of the most beautiful works of art in music history. Working with others not only relieves the incessant loneliness and boredom of being a musician in 2025, but it can unlock opportunities, spark creativity, and propel your career forward, especially if you’re a new artist. Here’s how collaborations can help to boost your music career in 2025.

Decent Music is proud to announce its official partnership with We Are Hummingbird, a groundbreaking non-profit organisation dedicated to raising mental health awareness through the power of music. This collaboration underscores Decent’s commitment to supporting the mental well-being of artists, fans, and the wider creative community. Together, we aim to foster an environment where mental health is openly discussed, destigmatised, and treated with the seriousness it deserves.

Spotify uses its own algorithms to reward artists with new listeners organically within their own platform. There are 4 main types of algorithmic playlist, and each one has their own trigger points.

Forget everything you thought you knew about how to promote your music. Anything that worked before is old news. It’s 2025 now, people. 2024 is a distant memory.