GUIDE RELEASING

How much do streaming platforms pay per stream?

A practical walkthrough of a first release — from the master file on your desktop to a live release everywhere. Written for artists who have never distributed before; no jargon left unexplained.

01

Prepare your master

Export the final mix as an uncompressed WAV — 24-bit / 48kHz is the delivery standard. Listen to the whole file once, start to finish, on headphones and on a phone speaker. Check the start and end for clicks, and leave no accidental silence at either end.

✓Uncompressed WAV, 24-bit / 48kHz
✓Full listen-through on two devices
✓No clipping, clicks or trailing silence
02

Artwork that passes review

Artwork requirements vary by destination. Confirm the current file, colour, text and logo rules before delivery.

✓3000×3000 px, RGB
✓Readable at thumbnail size
✓No platform logos, handles or URLs
03

Metadata & codes

Metadata is how the world finds you: artist name spelled exactly the same way every release, the real title with no decoration, the correct language and genre tags. Identifier codes — ISRC for the recording, UPC for the release — are assigned during onboarding; you do not need to buy them anywhere.

✦ Spelling drift is the most common first-release mistake — “Layla Noor”, “LaylaNoor” and “Layla N.” become three different artists in the stores.
04

Choose your release date

Give yourself runway. A date several weeks out leaves room for review, delivery and pitching before day one. Align the date with anything you control — a video, a show, a post series — so the release lands with support rather than alone.

05

Apply for your invite

Mazufa is invite-only. Complete applications enter a human-review queue subject to capacity. Submitting never creates an account; approved applicants may receive a private onboarding invitation.

06

After approval

Once onboarded, an eligible release is prepared to current destination specifications. Available reporting depends on platform data and account access.

TERMS USED IN THIS GUIDE
ISRC

An ISRC identifies a recording; reporting and royalty coverage depend on each platform and agreement.

UPC

The barcode of your release — one per single, EP or album.

DSP

Digital Service Provider — a music service such as Spotify, Apple Music or Anghami, subject to current availability.

Learn · Guide

Rough average payout per stream. These are rough industry estimates only — real payouts vary a lot by country, subscription type (free vs premium), and the platform's pro-rata pool. Treat them as ballpark, not a promise.

Rough average payout per stream

PlatformPer stream (avg)
TIDALVaries by service, territory and current terms
Apple MusicVaries by service, territory and current terms
Amazon MusicVaries by service, territory and current terms
SpotifyVaries by service, territory and current terms
DeezerVaries by service, territory and current terms
YouTube MusicVaries by service, territory and current terms

These are rough industry estimates only — real payouts vary a lot by country, subscription type (free vs premium), and the platform's pro-rata pool. Treat them as ballpark, not a promise.

Why the rate isn't fixed

Most platforms use a "pro-rata" pool: they collect subscription and ad revenue, take their share, then split the rest among rights-holders by share of total streams. So your per-stream rate moves with the whole market, your listeners' countries, and whether they're paying subscribers.

Fees and deductions follow the current plan and agreement

Ownership, licence scope and royalties follow the applicable agreement

Choose an Artist or Label application

FAQ

How many streams to earn $1,000?

Provider payouts, pricing and deductions vary by service, territory and current terms; verify current official terms and reports.

Does Mazufa take a cut of my royalties?

Fees and deductions follow the current plan and agreement. Review the current reporting and payment terms.

Your first single starts here

One invite application, reviewed by a human. Bring the master, the artwork and the story.

Apply for Invite ♪