Drake has put Spotify on the spot (pun intended), calling for the audio streaming and media service to reward musicians with cash bonuses for reaching milestones on the platform versus simply giving them plaques. The “Sneakin‘” rapper posted a screenshot to his Instagram account on Wednesday displaying he’s the first artist ever on Spotify to surpass 75 billion streams. Drake wrote on his social media account, “We should get bonuses like athletes to motivate the future artists to be consistent and competitive. So feel free to send me a LeBron-sized check. I have enough dinner plates @spotify.”

Wondering what size Lebron James’ checks are? The soon-to-be no. 1 all-time scorer in NBA history rakes in $45 million a year from his LA Lakers annual salary. In 2022, King James also hit billionaire status due to his outside-of-the-court endorsements such as Beats By Dre and Nike. With that in mind, it’s no wonder Drake is putting pressure on Spotify to step their game up as far as paying artists for hitting unparalleled markers (e.g. reaching 75 billion streams).

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On Spotify, Drake’s smash track “One Dance” became the first song to get streamed a billion times in 2016. That same year, the “Emotionless” hit maker was the app’s most streamed male artist. Drizzy set another record with the music platform in 2017 by becoming the first musician to gather 10 billion streams. Spotify announced in 2021 that Champagne Papi was their most streamed artist once more after he accumulated more than 50 billion streams on the service.

Drake released “Her Loss” (his joint L.P. with 21 Savage) in November 2022 and via Spotify the album surpassed 1 billion streams. The “digital music service that gives you access to millions of songs” pays out $.003-$.005 per stream, thereby, to make a dollar an artist would need to amass roughly 250 streams. Additionally, per stream compensation is based on the artist’s auditor base and distribution contract.

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