MADE IN CANADA, LOVED BY THE WORLD

What Does 19% Year-Over-Year Growth Sound Like? For Canadian Artists, It Sounds Like a Career

March 24, 2026

As the music industry gathers for Canada’s Juno Awards, the local edition of Spotify’s Loud & Clear report is here to offer a transparent look at the streaming economy. The big takeaway? More Canadian artists than ever are building sustainable careers, powered by fans at home and around the world.

Our annual report on the economics of music streaming breaks down how Spotify generates revenue for artists. In 2025, royalties generated by Canadian artists from Spotify alone reached over $544M CAD. That’s a 19% jump in just one year and up nearly 60% since 2021 (compared with Canada’s total recorded music revenue increase of 5.6%, or 4.5% when looking at streaming alone, per IFPI Canada). It represents real income that helps artists build careers from the ground up, whether they’re in a bedroom in Calgary, a studio in Montreal, or a basement in Halifax.

An engine for artist earnings

Streaming is creating real financial opportunity for a growing number of artists. In 2025, the number of Canadian artists whose music generated significant revenue on Spotify continued to grow:

    • More than 370 Canadian artists generated more than $100K CAD on Spotify alone in 2025.
    • More than 100 Canadian artists surpassed $500K CAD.
    • Nearly 70 artists generated over $1M CAD.;
    • The number of artists generating $100K on Spotify alone in a single year has nearly doubled since 2018, while those at the thresholds above, such as $500K CAD and $1M CAD, have more than doubled in that same time period.

This growth shows that more artists than ever are building sustainable careers at every level.

Canada’s diverse voices are being heard

This growth is also creating a more diverse and representative industry. Music in French saw a 38% increase in royalties generated globally since 2023, proving that great music connects with people, no matter the language. Montreal-born artist Charlotte Cardin, who sings in both French and English, has seen this firsthand.

“It’s always been natural for me to express myself and make my art in both languages. And so one thing that I absolutely love about streaming, and about how people consume music nowadays, is that people are so open to listening and being touched by a song or an album that’s not necessarily in the language that they speak or understand.”

Canada is also a top-ranking country for female representation among its highest-earning artists. More than 40% of Canadian artists generating over $1M USD on Spotify are women or bands that include women.

Made in Canada, streamed around the globe

While local support is strong, global audiences are crucial for Canadian artists. In 2025, 92% of royalties generated by local artists on Spotify came from listeners outside the country. Last year, fans discovered Canadian artists for the first time over 3.56 billion times.

“Canada has always punched above its weight culturally, but Loud & Clear shows the scale behind that success,” said Elizabeth Phipps, Head of Artist and Label Partnerships, Spotify Canada. “Canadian artists aren’t just succeeding at home, they’re building global audiences, and with a market of under 40 million people, export isn’t optional, it’s fundamental to the future of Canada’s music sector.”

This global reach is especially impactful for independent artists and diaspora-driven genres like Punjabi-Canadian music, now available to fans all over the world.

What comes next 

Our Loud & Clear Canada report shows a growing music scene that’s more global and diverse than ever. From the biggest stars to up-and-coming talent, listeners everywhere are discovering Canadian artists. We’re committed to supporting the industry and connecting artists with fans around the world, now and into the future.

Head to Loud & Clear to explore the global report.