Musicians and DJs make most of their money performing live across the world, selling merchandise and making guest appearances.
But in an age of ever-evolving technology, where physical record purchases are less popular, what is the earning potential of online streaming, especially over the festive period?
It has been revealed, Mariah Carey is the most streamed artist at Christmas with her hit All I Want for Christmas making her over £1million from Spotify alone.
According to new research by Broadband Deals, the report reveals the American singer has beaten ‘King of Christmas’ Michael Buble to take the top spot.
The Pay Per Play report highlights that artists get paid £0.0034 per every stream on Spotify.
And it turns out any singer who has featured on a John Lewis Christmas advert has also cashed in.
Lily Allen’s Somewhere Only We Know is the most streamed with 189.6 million plays to date – generating the artist £647,311.68 through Spotify alone.
Her single featured in the 2013 Christmas advert, which cost the brand £6million to make. But Allen revealed she was paid just £8,000 for her collaboration meaning she made more money through Spotify plays as a result of featuring and promoting the single.
(Image: Picture: Getty)
Ellie Goulding’s Your Song is the second most streamed John Lewis Christmas anthem generating the artist just under half a million.
Here we run down the highest earners on Spotify:
Top 10 Christmas
Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas – £1,727,777.49
Wham!, Last Christmas – £1,196,628.74
Ariana Grande, Santa Tell Me – £863, 451.06
Michael Buble, It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas – £856,298.93
Justin Bieber, Mistletoe – £742,875.26
Andy Williams, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year – £663,512.63
Band Aid (1984) Do They Know It’s Christmas? – £615,356.20
Brenda Lee, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – £610,426.88
Bobby Helms, Jingle Bell Rock – £589,624.63
Pentatonix, Hallelujah – £541,181.90
