[Touche]

Artists make nothing from Spotify, so why is it so much worse to use a service that is completely free?

[brentm]

Spotify has paid artists more than $1B to date, $500 million in 2013 alone.

source: http://www.spotifyartists.com/spotify-explained/

[Touche]

Totals don't speak to individual income, what is the mean, median, and range per artist?

[newaccountfool]

True that, they make pennies, but they do get exposure. But then if your going down the 'Every pirate play is a lost sale' route they should be giving the artists more. Has there been profit data released about spotify? What does there CEO make?