Do Free Spotify Streams Count?

With the rise of streaming services over the past several years, music fans have had more freedom than ever to access their favorite songs. One of the most popular services is Spotify, which offers both free and premium subscriptions. But the question of whether or not free Spotify streams count has been debated for some time now.

The answer to this question is not a simple “yes” or “no.” While free streaming does count towards the total number of plays a song receives, it does not necessarily translate into increased revenue for artists and labels.

This is because Spotify’s revenue model does not pay royalties for free streams, but rather pays a fraction of a penny per stream for premium subscribers. So while an artist might see an increase in their total number of plays on Spotify, they will not see much (if any) financial benefit from those free streams.

Another factor to consider when it comes to free streaming is that it doesn’t always lead to more sales or streams on other platforms. According to research conducted by MusicWatch Inc., only 17% of users who listen to music through streaming services go on to purchase music after discovering it via those same services. This suggests that while having your songs streamed on Spotify can be good exposure, it may not necessarily lead to increased sales or streams on other platforms.

At the end of the day, whether or not free Spotify streams count depends on what you are trying to achieve as an artist or label. If you are looking for more exposure and want your songs played by as many people as possible then having them streamed on Spotify can be beneficial. However if you’re hoping for increased sales then it may be better to focus your efforts elsewhere.

Conclusion

Do Free Spotify Streams Count? The answer is yes and no; while they do increase total play counts on the platform, they don’t necessarily result in increased revenue for artists and labels, nor does it always lead to increased sales or streams on other platforms. Ultimately, whether or not free streaming counts depends on what you are trying achieve with your music career.