Methodology & sources
Every number in our free tools, explained: the formulas, the rates, and where they come from. If a source updates, we update — the review date is stamped on each tool.
Streaming royalty calculator
Open tool →Formula: payout = streams × per-stream rate, per platform. The rates we use (last reviewed 2026-08): Spotify $0.0040 · Apple Music $0.0078 · Amazon Music $0.0045 · TIDAL $0.0125 · Deezer $0.0055 · YouTube Music $0.0080 · YouTube (ad-supported) $0.0007 · Pandora $0.0013.
No streaming service pays a fixed per-stream rate — payouts are pro-rata shares of revenue pools that vary by month, listener country, and free-vs-premium mix. Our figures are all-in averages to rights holders (before distributor fees) compiled from the sources below, rounded to planning precision. Treat results as ballparks, not guarantees.
Distributor comparison
Open tool →Formula: estimated first-year cost = annual fee + (per-release fee × your releases) + (revenue share × your expected revenue). We rank cheapest-first and, if you want publishing administration, flag which distributors offer it as a paid add-on (none bundle it free) so you can budget the outside cost. For tiered distributors we price the cheapest tier that keeps 100% of royalties with unlimited releases. Pricing is public list pricing, last reviewed 2026-08: DistroKid ($24.99/yr) · TuneCore ($24.99/yr) · CD Baby ($0/yr, 9% cut, $9.99/single) · UnitedMasters ($19.99/yr) · Amuse ($23.99/yr).
Distributors change pricing and tiers often — always confirm on their official pages before committing:
Show break-even calculator
Open tool →Formula: net = guarantee + (ticket cut + merch profit per head) × attendance − costs. Break-even attendance = (costs − guarantee) ÷ per-head revenue, rounded up; if the guarantee alone covers costs you're profitable at zero attendance. Pure arithmetic on your own inputs — no external data.
Revenue-leak audit
Open tool →How it works: your answers run through deterministic rules (no AI, nothing stored on anonymous runs) mapping each gap to the royalty stream it forfeits — e.g. songwriters without a PRO can't receive performance royalties; unregistered works pay nothing even for members; US streaming mechanicals for self-published writers are only payable via The MLC. Answering "I'm not sure" is treated as a leak, because unclaimed royalties are eventually forfeited or redistributed. How each stream works, per the organizations that pay them:
Ticket fee calculator
Open tool →How it works: we apply each platform's published fee structure to your price × quantity. Current inputs (2026-08): Eventbrite ≈ 3.7% + $1.79/ticket + 2.9% payment processing; DICE-style negotiated booking fees typically 10–15% baked into the fan price (we show the 12.5% midpoint); Ticket Tailor ≈ $0.75/ticket pay-as-you-go plus card processing. Platforms change pricing — always confirm before choosing. Musavise tickets are $0 because we don't process payments at all: you get QR tickets and a door scanner, and collect money yourself.
Spot something outdated? These tools are maintained actively — reach out and we'll correct it. Nothing here is financial or legal advice.
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