🎧 A Platform for All – But Not All Get Heard
Spotify currently hosts over 8 million artists. While that sounds like a vibrant, bustling marketplace of music… the truth is a bit less glamorous:
- Around 78% of these artists have fewer than 50 monthly listeners.
- Only 19% of artists exceed 1,000 monthly listeners.
In short: the majority of artists on Spotify are simply not being heard by many people. The platform may be open to everyone, but attention is a limited resource.
🎯 What Is the Real Average on Spotify?
If we consider all accounts, the statistical average is extremely low—far below 1,000 monthly listeners. That’s because millions of inactive, experimental, or unpromoted artists barely reach double digits.
But if we filter to “active and growing” artists, the average tends to hover in the range of 2,000 to 10,000 monthly listeners, especially for those working consistently and getting playlist support.
TL;DR: Most artists have under 50 listeners.
But if you have over 1,000 monthly listeners, you’re already in the top 20%.
📊 Spotify Monthly Listeners: Tier Breakdown
| Artist Tier | Monthly Listener Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hobbyist / Unpromoted Artist | < 50 | Represents the majority |
| Small Independent Artist | 100 – 1,000 | Building audience organically |
| Mid-Level Indie / Niche Artist | 1,000 – 10,000 | Some editorial, algorithmic support |
| Semi-Pro Artist | 10,000 – 50,000 | Growing fanbase, consistent releases |
| Established Artist | 50,000 – 500,000 | Touring, playlists, label support |
| Superstar | 1M+ | Massively popular |
| Global Megastar | 50M – 100M+ | Think: The Weeknd, Taylor Swift |
🌎 Examples from the Top of the Mountain (2025)
Here are the current Spotify chart-toppers (as of July/August 2025):
- The Weeknd – ~111M
- Bruno Mars – ~111M
- Taylor Swift – ~105M
- Justin Bieber – ~100M
- Ed Sheeran – ~98M
- Lady Gaga – ~96M
The top 10 artists make up a massive share of global Spotify listening, largely thanks to playlist placements, virality, and fan loyalty.
🤔 Why Is the Average So Low?
- Massive number of passive users: Many artists upload one song, do no promo, and never return.
- Algorithm favors winners: Spotify’s Discover Weekly, editorial playlists, and autoplay systems favor already-successful artists.
- Streaming is saturated: With millions of new tracks uploaded monthly, standing out is harder than ever.
🎁 Bonus: How Many Listeners Should You Aim For?
- 1,000+ monthly listeners: a good starting milestone.
- 10,000+: you’re becoming a serious player.
- 50,000+: you can pitch for editorial playlists and grow faster.
- 100,000+: full-time artist potential.
Keep in mind: a few thousand true fans are often more powerful than 100,000 passive ones.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Spotify’s average monthly listener number depends on how you look at it:
- Overall average: < 50 listeners (yes, really).
- “Active artist” average: likely around 2,000–10,000.
- Top artist average: millions.
So if you’re getting 700+ monthly listeners, you’re already ahead of most artists on the platform. Keep pushing. You’re in the game.
