3 billion streams is a hell of a lot. We can't get a billion views of a movie in the theater. But an A list actor gets paid more than 15 million to do it. If you get 3 billion people to click on your app, you can probably turn that into more than $15 million. Just saying. The math ain't mathing.
The Acquired Podcast episode on Taylor Swift goes into a lot of detail (toward the end) on how these things shake out and different rights and typical renumeration. Covers why radio/CDs were much better deal for artists. Also how she used her power to benefit all artists. youtu.be/ssljH1mQyfk?...
YouTube video by Acquired
Artists on major labels get a different deal altogether. Once you start doing numbers like 3 billion streams Spotify pays you a lump sum up front in addition to the per-stream money.
The guy who did all of the data behind Spotify’s algorithm and then got laid off has a book out, YOU HAVE NOT YET HEARD YOUR FAVORITE SONG. I won’t say I’m fully sold still and will keep buying albums til they stop making them but I really enjoyed it www.amazon.com/Have-Heard-Y...
Amazon.com: You Have Not Yet Heard Your Favourite Song: How Streaming Changes Music eBook : McDonald, Glenn: Kindle Store