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Spotify streams earn singer mere £0.003 despite tens of thousands of likes

A brief segment of a song, spanning just 10 seconds, can spread rapidly online, yet it does not necessarily mean the entire track will be played.

Social media platforms have made it relatively easy for emerging artists to gain thousands of likes and shares for their music, with many young musicians experiencing rapid online growth.

A woman with black hair in a red dress holding white and red roses — Megan Wyn supported Alanis Morissette at her Cardiff gig in 2025

However, converting these casual viewers into dedicated listeners who will stream full songs on platforms like Spotify remains a significant challenge for many artists.

Megan Wyn, a singer with over 12,600 social media followers, has found that this online presence translates to just 540 monthly listeners on Spotify, highlighting the disconnect between social media engagement and actual music streaming.

Megan acknowledges the importance of social media in helping young people discover her music, but notes that getting them to listen to her full songs on Spotify is a more difficult task, despite this being where her complete discography is available.

Dylan Carmichael, another singer, has amassed 57,000 social media followers but only has one original song on Spotify; nonetheless, he credits his "TikTok fans" with creating a loyal fan base that attends his live performances.

Megan expresses frustration with the current state of music consumption, where artists struggle to transition casual fans into dedicated listeners.

Her hope is that fans who are familiar with short clips of her songs will eventually listen to her full discography, but this remains a challenging goal to achieve.

With over 713 million active users worldwide, Spotify represents a crucial platform for musicians to reach vast audiences and gain widespread recognition.

A black and white image of a woman holding a microphone singing — Bonnie Tyler's huge hit Total Eclipse of the Heart has surpassed a billion streams

Recently, the 80s classic "Total Eclipse of the Heart" surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, a milestone that underscores the platform's massive reach and influence.

Although singer Bonnie Tyler reported earning very little from this achievement, a spokesperson for the platform revealed that Tyler's catalogue has generated over $1.4 million in royalties from Spotify streams in 2025 alone.

The process of how musicians are paid on Spotify is complex, with the platform explaining that royalty payments vary based on factors like streaming agreements and label contracts.

Megan estimates that she earns approximately £0.003 per stream, a figure that highlights the financial challenges faced by many emerging artists.

Despite these challenges, Megan emphasizes the importance of Spotify as a platform for reaching a massive audience that would be impossible to access through other means.

In addition to streaming, artists can gain exposure through live performances, such as when Megan supported Canadian superstar Alanis Morissette at a Cardiff gig attended by 35,000 people last summer.

A woman sings into a microphone — Megan was a special guest at Blackweir Fields last summer, performing before Alanis Morissette

However, predicting what content will resonate with audiences and generate hundreds of likes and shares on social media remains a difficult task, according to Megan.

She notes that there is no formula for success, and even similar content can elicit vastly different responses from fans.

Megan observes that posting consistent content can be unpredictable, with some videos performing well and others not, making it a matter of luck rather than strategy.

Instead of polished promotional posts, Megan has found that behind-the-scenes videos, such as gig clips and day-in-the-life content, tend to perform well and engage her audience.

She believes that fans respond to this type of content because it offers a unique glimpse into her life and creative process.

As a result, these videos have helped Megan gain more followers and listeners on Spotify, as fans feel more invested in her music and persona.

Like many artists, Megan has benefited from being featured on Spotify's curated playlists, including Fresh Finds UK and Proper Belters.

While these playlists can boost an artist's exposure, Megan notes that their impact has diminished over time due to the sheer number of playlists now available.

Her advice to young artists is to prioritize authenticity over chasing virality on social media, as this can ultimately compromise the quality and sincerity of their music.

Megan warns that becoming too focused on what performs well on social media can detract from the creative process and undermine an artist's unique voice.

She believes that fans can discern when content is genuine and when it is manufactured for the sake of popularity.

The rise of short-form content on social media has significantly altered how people engage with music, with some artists finding that fans only recognize the viral section of a song.

A brunette girl in a blue hoodie smiling at the camera — Bethan finds most of her new music through TikTok

Izzy, a 19-year-old from Cornwall, draws inspiration from TikTok and uses Spotify's recommendation feature to discover new music and artists.

While Izzy considers herself a loyal listener, she admits that her listening habits are likely not as dedicated as she would like to think, with many songs being familiar only as snippets from TikTok.

Izzy notes that she is deeply familiar with the music of artists she is passionate about, but for many songs she discovers on TikTok, she only knows the viral clip.

This experience is not unique to Izzy, as many young listeners are discovering and engaging with music in similar ways.

Bethan, a 17-year-old from Cardiff, has found three of her favorite artists through TikTok, a platform that has become a key discovery tool for many young music fans.

When Bethan finds a song she likes on TikTok, she immediately searches for it on Spotify and even pre-saves upcoming releases.

Emily, from Cornwall, describes herself as a "TikTok warrior for music," using the platform to discover and promote new artists and songs, particularly in the indie and indie rock genres.

Oli, another fan, tries to find new music on TikTok but often finds that the full song does not live up to the promise of the viral clip.

A man with brunette hair and a black puffer jacket smiling at the camera on the left, and a girl with light hair in a pink jacket smiling at the camera on the right — "There's a reason 10 second clips do well," according to Oli

Oli notes that there is usually a reason why a particular clip becomes popular, and it is not always indicative of the song's overall quality.

Dylan Carmichael began his music career by posting song covers on TikTok and Instagram during the Covid-19 lockdown, eventually building a sizable audience through daily uploads and live streaming.

Over time, Dylan has grown his social media following to around 57,000 users, despite having only one original song available on Spotify.

Dylan's experience highlights the challenges of transitioning from social media success to a more traditional music career, with all its attendant demands and expectations.

A man in a blue shirt smiling and playing guitar — Dylan has found it easier to convert social media followers into fans at gigs rather than listeners on platforms such as Spotify

Despite these challenges, Dylan has managed to build a loyal fan base that attends his live performances, a testament to the power of social media in launching and sustaining a music career.

As Dylan continues to navigate the complexities of the music industry, he remains committed to creating and sharing his music with fans, both online and offline.

According to him, covers generally garner significantly more engagement than original content.

Dylan noted that familiarity is a key factor, stating, "Audiences tend to stay longer when they recognize the music."

Live streaming serves as a means for him to showcase his own music to listeners.

During live streams, he often incorporates original songs into his setlist, which is predominantly composed of familiar tracks, saying, "I'll play songs that people know, and then I'll introduce one of my own."

This approach frequently elicits a positive response, with listeners reacting by saying, "I really like this."

Contrary to concerns about the so-called "TikTok effect," where fans only know short clips of songs, Dylan's live performance experiences have been largely positive.

A man sings for a crowd who watch — Many of the people who attend Dylan's gigs heard about him on social media

As a regular performer in Wales, he utilizes social media to secure bookings and connect with his audience.

Dylan observed that attendees at his gigs often have a deep knowledge of his music, recalling, "When I've performed live, I've found that the audience members usually know all the lyrics."

He attributes this to his relatively smaller following, suggesting that the people who attend his shows are genuinely invested in his music, explaining, "The ones who come to my gigs are the ones who actually listen to my work."

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Keanu Reeves’ John Wick Video Game Revealed at PlayStation Event

The iconic hitman has made previous appearances in games, however, the version developed by Saber will mark the first instance where the character is voiced by Reeves.

A video game adaptation of the John Wick franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, is in development, with Keanu Reeves set to lend his likeness and voice to the project.

An in game screenshot of a video game version of Keanu Reeves as the character John Wick. He is wearing a suit and looking at the camera.

The game, currently titled "Untitled John Wick Game", is being developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, in collaboration with Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick film series.

A trailer for the game, expected to serve as a prequel to the film series, was unveiled during PlayStation's "State of Play" event on Thursday.

The event also featured announcements for remakes of several major game franchises, including the God of War trilogy, as well as a special 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman.

The John Wick film series, which has earned over $1 billion globally, follows the story of a retired assassin, played by Keanu Reeves, as he seeks vengeance in a world of high-stakes action.

Although the character of John Wick has appeared in games before, this will be the first time Keanu Reeves has provided his voice for the role.

Reeves has previous experience in the gaming industry, having played a key role in the hit game Cyberpunk 2077 as the character Johnny Silverhand.

According to Matthew Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, the development team is "honored" to be working with Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves to bring the John Wick universe to life in a AAA game.

The game's story will be an original narrative designed for mature audiences, featuring a mix of familiar characters from the film series and new ones.

Jenefer Brown, president of global products at Lionsgate, the producer of the John Wick films, expressed the company's goal of capturing the "intense action" and "distinctive fight choreography" that define the franchise.

The reaction to the game's announcement has been largely positive among fans on social media.

However, some fans have expressed concerns about the potential impact on Saber Interactive's other projects, including the long-awaited remake of the classic Star Wars game Knights of the Old Republic.

Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief of The Game Business, believes that the John Wick game is a strong fit for Saber Interactive, given the studio's experience with action-oriented IPs and its ability to release multiple games across various genres.

Dring notes that Saber Interactive operates as a collective of studios working on multiple IPs, allowing it to release a diverse range of games annually.

During the same event, Sony announced that Santa Monica Studios is working on remakes of the first three God of War games, building on one of the platform's most successful franchises.

An in-game screenshot of Silent Hill Townfall. We see the back of a man who is looking at a sign that says "Welcome to St. Amelia". — Konami's trailer for Silent Hill Townfall revealed it is set in St Amelia, a "fictional island inspired by Scotland"

Although a release date for the God of War remakes was not provided, Sony did announce a surprise side-scrolling prequel game, Sons of Sparta, which is available now.

The event also offered a first look at Townfall, the latest installment in the Silent Hill series, set on the fictional island of St. Amelia, which draws inspiration from Scotland.

A 30th-anniversary edition of the classic platformer Rayman was also announced, featuring five versions of the 1995 game, along with a near-immediate release.

Loic Gounon, brand producer for the Rayman games, discussed the anniversary edition with the BBC, highlighting the inclusion of a new documentary that explores the making of the original game, as well as accessibility features designed to enhance the experience for modern players.

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Tottenham set to appoint temporary boss ahead of permanent summer hire

Tottenham expect to appoint an interim manager to oversee the team for the rest of the season by this weekend, with plans to make a permanent appointment in the summer.

The task of finding a successor to Thomas Frank has fallen to Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham, who are overseeing the selection process.

Tottenham Hotspur intends to appoint an interim manager to see out the current season, with a view to making a more permanent appointment during the summer months.

The dismissal of Thomas Frank occurred earlier this week, at a time when the team was five points clear of the relegation zone.

According to sources close to BBC Sport, Tottenham Hotspur is expected to finalize an agreement with an interim manager before the team resumes training on Monday.

Following their early exit from the FA Cup in the third round, Tottenham has a nine-day break before facing Arsenal in the north London derby on February 22.

With no match scheduled for this weekend, the first-team squad has been given a brief break and is set to return to training on Monday.

The club is aware that the mid-season transfer window presents limited options, and it may be more feasible to secure a long-term manager at the end of the campaign.

An in-depth examination of Thomas Frank's tenure reveals the challenges he faced in winning over players and fans.

A closer look at Frank's time at Tottenham highlights the risks involved in his appointment and the ultimate failure of his tenure.

Although the search for an interim manager is still ongoing, the successful candidate will be considered for the permanent position if they perform well in the role.

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is a potential candidate to take the reins on a permanent basis, particularly since his contract with the US men's national team is set to expire after the World Cup this summer.

Another candidate being considered is Roberto De Zerbi, who recently parted ways with French club Marseille by mutual consent.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Tottenham, please refer to our dedicated section.

If you have any questions about Tottenham, feel free to ask and we will do our best to provide you with the information you are looking for.

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Aberdeen to unveil new manager soon with Docherty set to take assistant role

Aberdeen has bolstered its interim management team with the return of Tony Docherty, who previously served as an assistant manager, to support Peter Leven, amid anticipation of a permanent appointment announcement that sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel had indicated would be made “imminently”.

Ross County parted ways with Tony Docherty in December, and he has now taken on a new role.

Aberdeen have brought in former assistant manager Tony Docherty to support Peter Leven's interim management team, despite sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel indicating that a permanent appointment was imminent.

Docherty's return to Aberdeen comes just a week after Eirik Horneland, a former coach of Rosenborg, Brann, and Saint-Etienne, emerged as a top contender to succeed Jimmy Thelin, who was sacked earlier.

As Aberdeen delays making a full-time appointment, speculation surrounding Eirik Horneland's availability has arisen, with reports suggesting the 50-year-old Norwegian may not be able to take on the role until summer.

Since Jimmy Thelin's dismissal on January 4, Lutz Pfannenstiel has been leading the search for a replacement, and he confirmed that Tony Docherty would be joining the team to assist Peter Leven during the interim period.

Dundee Utd are facing a challenging schedule, with four matches in 14 days set to take place on a weather-affected pitch.

According to Stavrum, Eirik Horneland's coaching style, characterized by intensity, would be a good fit for Aberdeen.

Tony Docherty initially joined Aberdeen in 2013 as part of Derek McInnes' management team and spent eight years at the club.

Before his stint at Aberdeen, Docherty served as McInnes' assistant at Kilmarnock and later managed Dundee and Ross County, but his time at Ross County ended in December when he was let go with the team at the bottom of the Championship.

Lutz Pfannenstiel praised Tony Docherty's experience, stating that he has a deep understanding of the club and will be a valuable asset during the transition period.

Pfannenstiel highlighted Docherty's extensive knowledge of the Scottish Premiership, gained through his experience as both a coach and manager, which will be beneficial to the team in the short term.

The club's managerial search is nearing its conclusion, and an announcement regarding the new head coach is expected soon, according to Pfannenstiel.

Peter Leven, who is serving as caretaker manager for the third time, expressed his enthusiasm for Tony Docherty's appointment.

Leven welcomed Docherty's return, stating that his experience will be a significant boost to the team, particularly during the upcoming matches.

Leven noted that Docherty was eager to join the team and that his presence will provide valuable support during both training sessions and matches.

Eirik Horneland left his position at Saint-Etienne in early February, at which point his team was fourth in France's second tier.

If Aberdeen decides to wait until summer for Horneland to take over, it will be similar to the six-month delay that occurred when Jimmy Thelin joined the club from Elfsborg in the summer of 2024.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Aberdeen, visit our dedicated page.