Streaming Royalties in 2026: Why the Artist-Centric Shift Matters The streaming economy is still facing hard questions in 2026, and one of the biggest is simple: who really gets paid, and why? This Audiartist feature dives into the growing backlash against a system where a tiny fraction of tracks captures most of the revenue, while countless independent artists fight for visibility and sustainability. As artist-centric payment models gain traction, the conversation is shifting away from raw stream counts and toward something more meaningful: real listener engagement. More than just an industry debate, this shift could reshape how success is measured in music. Instead of rewarding passive listening and background plays in the same way as intentional support, artist-centric models aim to give more value to loyal fans, repeat listens, saves, and genuine connection. For independent artists, that could mean a future where building a committed audience matters more than chasing empty numbers. Read the full Audiartist feature here:
Streaming royalties remain debated as 1% of tracks dominate revenue. Artist-centric models aim to reward real fan engagement over passive streams.


















