Checked by the editors: 24 September 2026
Rates checked against reports by the label 88 Sever (2025) and UpSound (February 2026).
How much Yandex Music pays per stream
According to public reports by labels and distributors, a counted stream on Yandex Music (a play of 30 seconds or longer) pays in 2026:
- Free tier: about 0.009 ₽ (9 ₽ per 1,000)
- Paying subscribers: about 0.05 ₽ (50 ₽ per 1,000)
- Mixed audience on average: 0.021 ₽ in the 88 Sever report (2025) and 0.054 ₽ in UpSound's data (February 2026)
These are gross amounts before the distributor's share and neighbouring rights. In practice 50–70% of the gross payout reaches the artist.
What affects the rate
1. The listener's subscription
Yandex Music uses a pro-rata model: one pool is formed from all subscriptions (Premium, Family, Student) and from advertising on the free tier, then split between rights holders in proportion to their share of streams. A stream from a subscriber brings about 0.05 ₽, a stream from the free tier about 0.009 ₽.
2. Geography
A listener in Russia brings more than a listener in neighbouring countries on cheaper plans. The Russian audience is the core of payouts.
3. Listening time
A stream counts after 30 seconds. A track played to the end, added to the library or saved sends a signal to the algorithm and raises the chance of getting into personal recommendations.
4. Where the stream comes from
- Editorial playlists – steady daily streams
- Algorithmic selections – spikes when a track gets in
- Search and direct links – a loyal audience that saves tracks to the library
Real calculations
100,000 streams a month
At an average rate of 0.021–0.054 ₽: gross payout 2,100–5,400 ₽, minus the distributor's share (10–30%, 20% on average) 420–1,080 ₽, minus neighbouring rights of 10% 210–540 ₽. The artist receives about 1,500–3,800 ₽ a month.
1 million streams a month
Gross payout 21,000–54,000 ₽, minus the distributor's 20% 4,200–10,800 ₽, minus neighbouring rights of 10% 2,100–5,400 ₽. The artist receives about 14,700–37,800 ₽ a month.
A viral track with 10 million streams
Gross payout 210,000–540,000 ₽, minus the distributor's 15% 31,500–81,000 ₽, minus neighbouring rights of 10% 21,000–54,000 ₽. The artist receives about 157,000–405,000 ₽ for that month.
When the money arrives
The standard cycle through a distributor: in month X listeners stream the track, in month X+1 Yandex Music closes the reporting period, in month X+2 the payout reaches the distributor, and in month X+3 the distributor pays the artist. Money for March streams reaches the artist in June or July – a normal industry delay.
What the distributor takes
Several models work in Russia: DistroKid-style services with a fixed annual subscription and no active support; Believe and traditional labels that work for a share of revenue and add marketing and pitching; and OUR ANGELS with a fixed fee per release – 1 500 ₽ per single and 3 000 ₽ per EP or album, with pitching to editorial playlists included.
Taxes for artists in Russia
An artist resident in Russia pays tax on streaming income: as self-employed – 4–6%; as a sole proprietor on the simplified system (income) – 6%; as an individual – 13–22% personal income tax. Distributors and labels provide the closing documents.
How to increase payouts
- Pitch to editorial playlists – the most stable source of streams (see how to get on Yandex Music playlists).
- Release regularly – Yandex's algorithms reward a steady rhythm, one release every 4–8 weeks.
- Get the metadata right – correct genre, subgenre and description.
- Cross-promote with short videos (TikTok, VK Clips) – it brings spikes of streams on Yandex Music.
- Master properly – around −14 LUFS.
Five ways artists make money on Yandex Music
Only rights holders earn on Yandex Music – the artist, their label or distributor. Income comes from five sources: royalties for streams, donations from listeners, release pitching, Nitro for new artists, and concerts and merch for the audience the platform brings. The first two pay directly; the other three grow the number of listeners, and royalties grow with them.
| Source | What the artist needs | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| Royalties for streams | A release through a distributor | On average 0.021–0.054 ₽ per stream: 100,000 streams bring the artist about 1,500–3,800 ₽ after deductions |
| Donations from listeners | An artist profile in BandLink and Yandex Tips with the same Yandex ID | A "Donate" button on the artist page |
| Release pitching | A release with a future date, sent at least 2 weeks ahead | A chance at editorial selections and first listeners |
| Nitro | Up to 5,000 listeners a month | The algorithm finds an audience for the track |
| Concerts and merch | An audience that comes back to the artist | The main income of an emerging artist |
Donations. Verify the artist profile in BandLink (Yandex Music verifies artists and their teams through it), register in Yandex Tips with the same Yandex ID – the nickname and photo must match the artist page – and send the link to your Tips page to BandLink support. Only the artist can apply, not a manager. The check usually takes up to 3 business days, sometimes up to 20; after it a "Donate" button appears on the artist page.
Pitching. It doesn't pay by itself, but it is the main way to get first streams from the editors. Send the release to your distributor with a future release date, at least 2 weeks ahead. Two to four days after delivery a "Send for pitching" button appears in BandLink: choose the key track and write a description.
Nitro. A Yandex Music tool for artists with up to 5,000 listeners a month: the algorithm analyses how the track sounds and finds an audience for it. If listeners like the track and play it to the end, it gets into recommendations more often and may be considered for editorial promotion. A single can be sent to Nitro up to the release day.
Can you earn money by just listening to Yandex Music?
No. Yandex Music pays rights holders, not listeners. Services that promise money for listening sell fake streams, which the platform treats as manipulation: such tracks are removed from recommendations and editorial promotion, pushed down in search, and access to the content can be restricted. If a track uses artificial intelligence, the rights holder must disclose it.
Yandex Music vs other platforms
| Platform | Average rate per stream (listeners in Russia) |
|---|---|
| Zvuk | 0.47–0.80 ₽ |
| Spotify | 0.20–0.25 ₽ (not available to listeners in Russia) |
| Apple Music | 0.15–0.25 ₽ (limited) |
| KION Music (formerly MTS Music) | about 0.145 ₽ (B1, 2024) |
| VK Music | 0.011–0.085 ₽ |
| Yandex Music | 0.009–0.05 ₽ |
Per stream, VK Music pays no less than Yandex Music, but Yandex Music usually brings an artist more in total: it takes 54.9% of the market's revenue. Every platform is compared in music streaming services in Russia.
Releasing on Yandex Music from outside Russia
Yandex Music doesn't accept uploads from artists directly – only from distributors and labels. Not every distributor delivers to Russian platforms, so check that Yandex Music, VK Music and Zvuk are on the store list before you choose. OUR ANGELS delivers to all three together with 250+ other services worldwide – see the distribution terms.
Sources and methodology
Rates were checked on 24 September 2026 against open reports: the label 88 Sever (via Skillbox Media, 2025), UpSound (February 2026) and B1 (2024); market shares come from J'son & Partners Consulting (2025 results). Platforms don't publish their per-stream rates, and terms change several times a year – if you read this later, check the primary sources.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Yandex Music pay per stream?
On average 0.021–0.054 ₽: 21 ₽ per 1,000 streams in the 88 Sever report (2025) and 54 ₽ in UpSound's data (February 2026). A free-tier stream is worth about 0.009 ₽, a subscriber's about 0.05 ₽.
How much do 1,000 streams on Yandex Music pay?
21–54 ₽ before the distributor's fee, or roughly 18–49 ₽ after a 10–15% fee.
How much does 1 million streams on Yandex Music pay?
21,000–54,000 ₽ before the distributor's fee.
How many streams do you need to earn 50,000 ₽ a month?
One to 2.4 million streams a month before deductions at 21–54 ₽ per 1,000; with a 15% fee, 1.1–2.8 million.
When do Yandex Music payouts arrive?
With a 2–3 month lag through the distributor: money for March streams reaches the artist in June or July. The minimum withdrawal depends on the distributor.
Can I get paid by Yandex Music without a distributor?
No. Yandex Music works only with distributors and labels; artists can't upload music directly.
What is the minimum play that counts?
30 seconds. Shorter plays are not paid.
Does a family subscription pay more than a free stream?
Yes. Family and student plans are paid subscriptions, so their streams pay the subscriber rate (about 50 ₽ per 1,000), not the free-tier rate (about 9 ₽).
Release your music in Russia with OUR ANGELS
OUR ANGELS is an independent music label in Moscow, working since 2010, with 7,200+ releases in the catalogue. We deliver releases to Yandex Music, VK Music and Zvuk together with 250+ other stores and streaming services worldwide: 1 500 ₽ per single and 3 000 ₽ per EP or album, one-off, live in 2 business days, editorial pitching included. The rights stay with the artist, and royalty reports come once a quarter.
Not ready to release yet? Send us a demo or get in touch.
Read next: Music streaming services in Russia 2026 · How much artists earn in Russia · How to get on Yandex Music playlists
This guide is also available in Russian.