Spotify just got approval to show pricing and add external links inside its iOS app, bypassing Apple’s payment system. That means Spotify keeps more money from Premium subscriptions—and, more importantly, it can finally communicate directly with users about prices and plans without Apple interference.
That shift won’t affect stream payouts at all. But it does give Spotify more freedom to build tools that help artists monetize around streaming.
That matters, because everyone who’s been uploading music to Spotify for years already knows: tens of thousands of streams rarely add up to anything meaningful unless you’re in the top 0.01%. So if Spotify is finally able to make it easier for your fans to support you through merch, shows, vinyl, or subscriptions, without friction, that’s worth paying attention to.
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This Could Lead to Real Tools for Direct Artist Revenue
Spotify says this update will eventually enable “seamless buying opportunities” for creators. They’re starting with audiobooks, but the infrastructure could go much further.
If they extend that same model to artist-first features—merch links, custom pages, event bundles—that’s useful. Right now, even getting a listener to find your merch store takes effort. Anything that cuts out steps between “fan on Spotify” and “supporter who buys something” is worth using.
Don’t expect music sales to come back digitally. People aren’t buying downloads anymore, especially not on a streaming platform. The only thing keeping people from reverting back to the golden age of online piracy, according to popular discussions online, is this exact accessibility that Spotify’s streaming provides. But if Spotify makes it easier for artists to sell physical goods or access-based content, that’s a real lane.
Have a fanbase that supports your drops? This could become a frictionless way to capture that demand inside the app where they’re already listening.
This Isn’t a Total Fix—But It’s a Better Direction
This change doesn’t touch the core frustration most producers have with Spotify: the platform still treats music like content and artists like data inputs. Discovery is mostly algorithmic. Editorial support is limited and based on performance metrics more than curation.
But if Spotify is serious about helping artists monetize more directly, that’s a step in the right direction. It gives producers a reason to keep building their audience on the platform—not because the streams themselves pay well, but because there’s a clearer path to converting that audience into something sustainable.
No one’s saying this solves everything. But it’s more useful than another vague promise about “supporting creators.”
Final Word
You’re not going to make a living off Spotify streams unless you’re already huge. That hasn’t changed. But what has changed is this: Spotify now has more freedom to connect users with artists in ways that aren’t just about listening.
If you’ve been building your brand, selling your work, and creating offers beyond your music, this makes your Spotify presence more valuable. Not for the streams—but for what they lead to.
The post Why Spotify’s App Update Might Actually Matter for Artist Revenue appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.