Peloton significantly outperforms major streaming platforms in per-stream payouts to artists, offering roughly 10 times more than Spotify's rate. Independent artist Steven Cravis recently demonstrated this disparity through his October earnings report.

Comparing Platform Payouts (per stream):

• Peloton: $0.0407 (latest rate)
• Apple Music: $0.0068
• Tidal: $0.0088
• Spotify: $0.0035
• YouTube: $0.0015

Real-World Example:

• Artist: Steven Cravis (as Happy Halloween Music)
• Song: "Dark Crystal"
• Peloton Performance:
  • Total Streams: 26,456
  • Total Earnings: $1,078.46
  • Context: Featured in Halloween-themed cycling class playlist

Spotify Comparison:

• Same song earned $0 on Spotify during the same period
• Reason: New Spotify policy requires 1,000 streams minimum per year for royalty eligibility

While Peloton offers higher per-stream rates, it's important to note that its user base is significantly smaller than major streaming platforms. However, for artists who get featured in Peloton's workout playlists, the platform represents a valuable revenue stream with substantially better compensation than traditional music streaming services.

This disparity highlights ongoing discussions about fair artist compensation in the digital streaming era and suggests that alternative platforms might offer better revenue models for creators, even with smaller audience reach.

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