- Streaming royalties are paid per play by platforms like Spotify and Apple Music to your distributor, which forwards them to you.
- ONCE takes 0% of royalties. You keep 100% of master recording royalties on every release, AI or human.
- Spotify pays roughly $0.003–$0.005 per stream to rights holders (varies by country and plan). Most AI artists start small and compound over time.
- Publishing royalties are separate. Mechanical and performance royalties require PRO registration (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) — ONCE does not collect these.
How do AI music royalties work? When someone streams your AI-generated track on Spotify, Apple Music, or another platform, the streaming service pays a royalty to your music distributor. The distributor then pays you. On ONCE, you keep 100% of those master recording royalties — no revenue share, no commission, no hidden cut. You pay $2 once to distribute an AI release, and every stream dollar after that is yours.
How streaming royalties flow to you
The path from a Spotify play to your bank account:
- Listener streams your track on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc.
- The platform calculates a payout based on its royalty pool, your track's share of total streams, and the listener's country/plan.
- The platform pays your distributor (ONCE) for master recording royalties.
- ONCE forwards 100% to you. No revenue share deducted.
Typical Spotify per-stream rates for independent artists fall in the $0.003–$0.005 range, though this varies significantly by territory and subscriber type. A track with 10,000 streams might generate $30–$50 in master royalties.
What ONCE charges vs. what you keep
| ONCE | DistroKid | TuneCore | UnitedMasters (free) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost (AI release) | $2 once | $22.99/year | ~$9.99/song/year | $0 signup |
| Revenue share | 0% | 0% (while subscribed) | 0% | 10% forever on free tier |
| Tracks stay live if you stop paying | Yes | No | No (renewal required) | Yes, but 10% cut |
ONCE's model: pay once, distribute forever, keep every royalty. For AI music specifically, the flat $2 release price includes automatic AI provenance scanning and DSP disclosure — services most distributors do not bundle.
The extra dollar over the $1 human-music price on AI releases funds the Artist Compensation Fund (~$0.92 of every AI dollar). That is a one-time distribution surcharge, not a royalty cut.
Master royalties vs. publishing royalties
This distinction trips up a lot of first-time distributors:
Master recording royalties
Payment for the recording itself — the actual audio file. These are what streaming platforms pay per play. ONCE collects and forwards 100% of master royalties to you.
Publishing royalties
Payment for the composition — the underlying song (melody, lyrics, structure). Collected by Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, plus publishing administrators like Songtrust.
ONCE does not register your works with a PRO or collect publishing royalties. If you wrote original lyrics or made meaningful creative contributions to your AI track, consider joining a PRO separately.
For purely AI-generated instrumentals with no original lyrical contribution, publishing royalties are a gray area — but master royalties (the streaming income most artists care about first) flow normally.
How to actually get paid on ONCE
- Distribute your track through ONCE ($2 for AI, $1 for human).
- Wait for it to go live — typically 24–72 hours on major platforms.
- Accumulate streams. Royalties build as listeners find your music.
- Set up payout details in your ONCE account when you are ready to withdraw.
- Receive payments on ONCE's payout schedule as your balance reaches the minimum threshold.
There is no minimum stream count to start earning. Even one play generates a (tiny) royalty.
Do AI tracks earn less than human tracks?
Streaming platforms do not pay lower rates for AI-generated music. A stream is a stream. What affects your earnings:
- Total stream volume — the dominant factor.
- Listener geography — U.S. and European streams typically pay more than some emerging markets.
- Playlist placement — a editorial or algorithmic playlist can multiply streams overnight.
- Catalog size — more releases means more entry points for discovery.
AI music does face discovery challenges (playlist editorial bias, platform policies), but the per-stream economics are identical.
Frequently asked questions
Do I keep 100% of royalties on AI music with ONCE?
Yes. ONCE takes no revenue share on any release, AI or human. You keep 100% of master recording royalties.
How much money can AI music make on Spotify?
There is no ceiling, but most independent AI tracks start with modest numbers. 1,000 streams ≈ $3–$5. Tracks that land playlists can reach tens of thousands of streams. Treat early releases as portfolio building, not lottery tickets.
Does ONCE pay publishing royalties?
No. ONCE distributes recordings and collects master royalties. Publishing royalties (mechanical, performance) require separate PRO and publishing administrator registration.
How does ONCE compare on royalties to AWAL or UnitedMasters?
AWAL and UnitedMasters' free tier take a percentage of your royalties forever (typically 10–15%). ONCE charges a flat $2 once per AI release and takes 0% of ongoing royalties. Over a track's lifetime, that difference compounds significantly.
Start earning
Ready to get your AI track into the royalty pipeline?
- Export your track from Suno, Udio, or any AI generator.
- Sign up at ONCE and upload.
- Pay $2 once. Keep 100% of every stream forever.
Guides: AI music distribution · Distribute Suno music · Distribute Udio music · Compare distributors