How Much Artists Earned From Streaming in 2025: A Deep Analysis of Top Performers

In 2025, music streaming remains one of the core revenue channels for artists worldwide. Platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube play a central role in how musicians monetize their catalogs. According to industry reports, Spotify alone paid more than $9 billion to rights holders in 2023, reinforcing its position as the largest audio streaming platform globally.

However, an artist’s real income from streaming depends almost entirely on listening volume. On average, Spotify pays around $0.003–$0.0035 per stream, while YouTube generates approximately $0.003–$0.005 per view, depending on audience geography, ad rates, and content type.

Below is an in-depth look at top Russian, Ukrainian, and global artists, their estimated streaming numbers, annual and five-year earnings, and how their careers evolved. All figures are approximate and reflect gross streaming revenue before label splits, management fees, and taxes.

Top 5 Russian Artists by Streaming Revenue

Egor Kreed is one of the most commercially successful Russian pop and hip-hop artists of the last decade. He launched his solo career in 2011 under the alias KReeD, but his real breakthrough came in 2014 with the hit “Samaya Samaya,” which quickly pushed him into mainstream stardom. As of 2025, Egor Kreed has accumulated over 610 million Spotify streams, translating to roughly $1.9 million in lifetime Spotify revenue. His catalog consistently generates tens of millions of streams annually, producing an estimated $300,000–$500,000 per year, or $1–1.5 million over five years, excluding YouTube and other platforms.
MORGENSHTERN is among the most controversial and streamed Russian hip-hop artists. Known for provocative visuals and viral tracks like “El Problema” and “Cadillac,” he has built massive digital reach. By early 2025, his Spotify streams approached 930 million, which corresponds to approximately $3 million in total Spotify earnings. His annual streaming revenue is estimated between $500,000 and $1 million, with five-year earnings nearing $5 million.
Basta, founder of the Gazgolder label, is a veteran rapper and songwriter whose career spans nearly two decades. Starting with the cult hit “My Game” in 2007 and later mainstream songs like “Samsara,” Basta has accumulated more than 448 million Spotify streams. This equates to roughly $1.4 million in total streaming income, with annual earnings fluctuating from tens to several hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on release activity.
Timati is a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur whose influence extends beyond music. While his exact streaming figures are less transparent, his catalog consistently performs well across platforms. Combined streaming revenue from Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube places his annual digital income in the mid-six-figure range, supported by a loyal fanbase and long-term brand recognition.
Miyagi & Andy Panda gained popularity in the late 2010s through melodic hip-hop hits like “I Got Love.” Their combined Spotify streams exceed several hundred million, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars annually and placing them among the most streamed Russian-language acts of recent years.

Top 5 Ukrainian Artists on Streaming Platforms

Jerry Heil is a singer-songwriter who transitioned from YouTube creator to chart-topping artist within four years. By 2025, she reached approximately 174 million Spotify streams, equaling around $550,000 in cumulative Spotify revenue. On an annual basis, her Spotify income is estimated at $100,000–$150,000, with significant additional earnings from YouTube, where her music videos often reach hundreds of millions of views.
alyona alyona became widely known after the viral success of her track “Pushka.” Her Spotify catalog exceeds 138 million streams, generating approximately $440,000 in total revenue, with annual earnings in the tens of thousands of dollars from Spotify alone.
Max Barskih is one of Ukraine’s most successful pop exports. His major hits achieved massive rotation across Eastern Europe and beyond. With hundreds of millions of cumulative streams, his estimated streaming income ranges from $500,000 to $1 million over several years.
MONATIK, a pop artist and choreographer, has consistently released successful records since the early 2010s. His Spotify streams exceed hundreds of millions, producing an estimated $500,000 or more in streaming revenue over five years.
Go_A, the electro-folk band that gained international attention after Eurovision 2021, achieved global visibility with the song “SHUM.” Their tracks surpassed 100–200 million views on YouTube, and streaming platforms provide tens of thousands of dollars annually, driven by international listeners.

Top 10 Global Artists and Streaming Income

Taylor Swift remains the most powerful streaming artist worldwide. In 2023 alone, she generated 29.1 billion Spotify streams, with lifetime audio streams exceeding 117 billion. At average rates, this equals approximately $93 million from Spotify in one year, with total annual streaming revenue across platforms estimated at $100–120 million, and over $500 million across five years.
Bad Bunny, the leading Latin artist globally, topped Spotify in both 2022 and 2023. With over 101 billion lifetime streams, his annual streaming income reaches $80–100 million, totaling $400–500 million over five years.
Drake consistently generates 13–14 billion streams annually, translating to $40–50 million per year. His catalog exceeds 97 billion total streams, making him one of the most monetized artists in streaming history.
The Weeknd continues to dominate R&B and pop streaming. With roughly 60 billion lifetime streams, his annual digital income reaches tens of millions of dollars, driven by long-term playlist placement.
Ariana Grande recorded 6.23 billion Spotify streams in 2023, generating an estimated $10–15 million annually from streaming alone.
Ed Sheeran maintains similar figures, earning $10–15 million per year through streaming, supported by a globally consistent listener base.
BTS, the world’s biggest K-pop group, generated nearly 6 billion streams in 2023, with combined audio and video revenue reaching tens of millions annually.
Justin Bieber surpassed 50 billion lifetime streams and continues earning $10–20 million per year, even without frequent releases.
Coldplay generates $5–10 million annually from streaming, benefiting from decades of catalog longevity.
The Rolling Stones, Madonna, and Queen remain among the top catalog earners, each generating millions per year from streaming without relying on new releases.

How Artists Increase Streaming-Based Income

Streaming is only one part of a sustainable music business. The highest-earning artists rely on multiple income streams.

Merchandising plays a critical role, often accounting for up to 70% of total income. A single merchandise sale can generate the equivalent revenue of tens of thousands of streams. Live performances and tours remain the largest revenue driver, frequently surpassing streaming income by an order of magnitude. Brand partnerships, endorsements, and sponsored content generate six- and seven-figure deals independent of stream counts. Licensing and sync placements in film, TV, and advertising often exceed the lifetime streaming revenue of a single track. Fan-supported platforms like Patreon provide predictable, algorithm-independent income.

Professional Mixing and Mastering as a Revenue Factor

High-quality audio production directly impacts streaming success. Major platforms prioritize tracks that meet professional loudness, clarity, and tonal balance standards. Well-mixed and properly mastered tracks perform better in algorithmic recommendations, playlists, and listener retention metrics.

For independent artists and producers, professional audio preparation is no longer optional.

AREFYEV Studio is an online professional mixing and mastering studio helping artists achieve competitive, platform-ready sound. Our engineers work to ensure tracks translate perfectly across Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, maximizing both artistic impact and commercial potential.

Final Thoughts

Our analysis of Russian, Ukrainian, and global artists shows that even the most streamed musicians rely on diversified income models. Streaming provides scale and visibility, but true financial sustainability comes from combining digital plays with touring, merchandise, licensing, and branding. At the foundation of all successful releases lies professional sound quality. Investing in expert mixing and mastering remains one of the most effective ways to turn music into long-term income.

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