Spotify’s commitment to transparency and artist empowerment continues to resonate across Europe—and the numbers back it up. In its most recent Loud & Clear report, the company amplified a major milestone: European artists earned a record-breaking €1.7 billion in royalties on Spotify in 2024 alone. That’s a 15% year-on-year increase and nearly double what EU artists earned in 2020.
This landmark comes on the heels of another big moment: Spotify Founder and CEO Daniel Ek announcing at Spotify’s recent Open House event in Stockholm that they had reached 100 million paying subscribers across Europe.
“Europe and European creators are a crucial part of Spotify’s DNA. That is why we’re delighted to celebrate Spotify’s European Loud & Clear data for the second year running—providing artists and creators across the EU and the world transparency around the economics of music streaming,” said Spotify’s General Manager of Europe, Federica Tremolada. “We’re also excited EU creators are continuing to transcend global borders, with over half of all royalties generated by EU artists that perform in a non-English language.”
Global resonance
Spotify is particularly proud to be the only streaming platform to openly share how royalties are distributed. Its latest European data paints a vivid picture of a thriving creative ecosystem:
- 28 billion global discoveries of European artists in 2024.
- 351.66 billion streams of EU artists by European listeners.
- More than 830 million user-generated playlists in the U.S. included EU artists.
- Over 52,000 EU artists landing on editorial playlists (a 4% increase from 2023), strengthening the pipeline between European talent and global listeners.
Artists and creators thriving off their art
Spotify is more than a platform—it’s a career launchpad. In 2024:
- More than 17,000 EU artists earned more than €10,000.
- More than 27,000 EU artists earned more than €5,000.
This growth is not just encouraging—it’s life-changing. Nearly 44% of all royalties generated in the EU came from EU artists, the highest percentage since Spotify began tracking in 2017. And in a major milestone for language diversity, 57% of royalties went to artists performing in non-English languages.
Spotlighting female creators
Female voices across Europe are rising—fast. Since 2020, streams of female EU artists are up:
- 83% globally
- 81% across Europe
Between 2023 and 2024 alone, streams grew by 11% globally and 4% across the EU. In 2024, Spotify’s EQUAL program, launched to elevate female voices in music, supported more than 200 female European artists from 19 different markets with visibility, mentorship, and industry access.
“I am especially proud of the progress we’ve made for female creators. Streams of female European artists have soared, and through our EQUAL program, more than 200 European female artists have gained vital visibility, mentorship, and support,” said Federica. “These aren’t just numbers; they represent real women, real dreams, and a real shift in what it means to have a voice in this industry.”
Beyond English, beyond borders
European languages are powering streaming charts globally. In 2024:
- Italy became a $100M+ market for the first time.
- Seven of the top 10 most-streamed languages were European: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Italian, Dutch, and Swedish.
- European music exports grew on average 32% annually from 2014 to 2024.
These stats show that Europe isn’t just part of the global music conversation—it’s leading it.
Further highlights from around the region
A closer look at how artists are thriving across Europe:
- France: The number of artists earning more than €100K quadrupled since 2017. French artists made up 70% of Spotify France’s Daily Top 50 in 2024.
- Germany: 6.9 billion artist discoveries; more than half of royalty revenue went to independent acts.
- Belgium: More than 80% of royalties came from listeners outside the country.
- Denmark: 192 artists earned more than 500,000 DKK; total royalties nearly doubled since 2017.
- UK: The number of artists making £10K, £50K, and £100K has more than doubled since 2017. Those earning £1M+ rose 20% year-on-year.
“Being the first and only streaming service to share data on artist remuneration, our European Loud & Clear data is a core example of how streaming continues to empower European artists and creators to surpass geographical confines—to grow global fan bases, awareness, and success,” concludes Federica.
