As an expert in the music industry, I have a deep understanding of the complex dynamics that influence an artist's earnings from their music. The amount an artist receives per song can vary greatly depending on a multitude of factors. It's a multifaceted issue that involves streaming platforms, royalties, and the artist's contract with their record label or distributor.

First and foremost, the platform on which the song is streamed plays a significant role. Different platforms have different payment structures. For instance, Spotify, one of the leading music streaming services, has a pro-rata payment system. This means that the total revenue generated from advertisements and subscriptions is divided among all the streams on the platform, with each song receiving a portion of that revenue based on the number of streams it has received.

The average "per stream" payout to rights holders on Spotify is reported to be between $0.006 and $0.0084. However, this is just a part of the picture. The actual amount an artist receives can be less, as this figure includes the share that goes to the record label, distributors, and sometimes, other stakeholders involved in the production and distribution of the music.

Another important factor is the country where the song is streamed. Different countries have different levels of subscription rates and advertising revenue, which can affect the payout. Additionally, the currency value in that country can also play a role, as payouts are often converted into the artist's local currency, and fluctuations in exchange rates can impact the final amount received.

Artists who own their masters and are independent, meaning they have not signed with a record label, may receive a higher percentage of the revenue. However, this also means they bear the costs and responsibilities of production, marketing, and distribution.

Moreover, an artist's contract with their label can greatly affect their earnings. Some contracts may offer a higher royalty rate, while others might include advances that need to be recouped before the artist starts earning from their music.

It's also worth noting that not all streams are equal. A stream from a premium subscriber is worth more than one from a free user. This is because premium subscribers contribute to the platform's revenue through their subscription fees, whereas free users mainly contribute through ad revenue, which is typically lower.

In conclusion, the amount an artist gets per song is influenced by a variety of factors including the streaming platform, the country of the stream, the type of user account streaming the song, the artist's contract, and more. While the average per stream payout may give a general idea, the actual earnings can differ significantly from this average.

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We used Spotify's stated payout range -C $0.006 to $0.0084 per stream -C to calculate how much the top 50 songs streamed globally earned artists in 2014.read more >>