Sales from Spotify are reported to us in several different categories, or earning "types." To understand what each category represents, let's break them down!
|
Earning "Type" (how it will appear in your account) |
Description |
Stream |
- This is a legitimate stream of an eligible track on Spotify. It meets all the requirements for generating revenue. - Keep in mind that "noise content" (or "production sounds") that are over two minutes in length will be paid in this category, but at a lower percentage. - For "noise content" under two minutes, see the "Ineligible streams" row below. |
Spotify Discovery Mode Marketing Fee |
- These sales will be reported as normal, but any content that was opted in for Discovery Mode will have a separate adjustment entry that says “Spotify Discovery Mode Marketing Fee." |
Artificial Streams |
- An artificial stream is a stream that doesn't reflect genuine user listening intent, including any instance of attempting to manipulate Spotify by using automated processes (e.g. bots or scripts). - These will appear in your CD Baby sales reports for Spotify with the earnings type "Artificial Streams." The amount will show $0.00. - *Note: Prior to April 2024, artificial streams were not labeled as such. They look like a normal stream, but with a $0.00 amount. |
Ineligible Streams |
- These are streams for tracks that are considered "noise content" (or "production sounds") and are under 2 minutes in length. Due to Spotify's "Noise Content Minimum Track Length" guideline, these will be marked "Ineligible Streams," with a $0.00 amount. OR - These are Streams of tracks that do not meet the 1000 stream threshold Spotify has set for monetization. These will be marked "Ineligible Streams," with a $0.00 amount. |
Spotify Ad Studio |
- These streams are for tracks that have been licensed for use in Spotify Ad Studio, a service offered by Spotify allowing companies license music to be used in their Spotify advertisements. - When one of your songs is licensed for use in Spotify Ad Studio, you will receive payments any time your song is used in an ad. - These payments depend on how many times the ad runs, so you will most likely not see consistent reporting on those uses. |
Spotify Sync Marketing |
- Spotify Sync Marketing is similar to Ad Studio in that your songs may be licensed for use by Spotify. - However, unlike Ad Studio, which pays depending on how many times the ad is run, Sync Marketing is an upfront agreement for potential future use of the song, with a one-time upfront payment. - You will be paid whether or not the licensed song is selected for use in the future. |
|
Spotify Artificial Streaming Fee |
- Spotify charges CD Baby a fee as the distributor of "fraudulently" streamed content. This fee is then passed on to you as the copyright owner. - These are flat fees, not a reversal of previous earnings. |
Note:
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