The Cost of a Stream: What Spotify’s Price Hike Means for Independent Music

Posted by: Humble House Records

Location: St. Petersburg, FL

You’ve probably seen the headlines—or maybe you just checked your bank statement. For the first time since launching in the U.S., Spotify is raising its subscription prices. The standard Premium plan is moving from $9.99 to $10.99 a month.

At a glance, a dollar increase doesn’t seem like much. It’s less than a cup of coffee on Central Ave here in St. Pete. But in the music industry, this shift is massive, and as an independent label, we have some thoughts on it.

The Value of Music

For over a decade, the price of access to nearly every song ever recorded has stayed flat at $9.99. Meanwhile, inflation has touched everything else—from the gas we put in the tour van to the cost of vinyl production.

From the Humble House Records perspective, music has immense value. It scores your life, gets you through the workday, and sets the vibe for your weekends. If this price increase signals that the market is finally recognizing that value, that’s a step in the right direction.

Where Does That Extra Dollar Go?

This is the million-dollar question (or rather, the one-dollar question). Spotify claims these updates will allow them to "innovate" and deliver value to fans and artists.

As the owners of Humbly Published, our publishing company, we are watching this closely. The hope across the indie community is that a higher subscription price increases the total revenue pool, which should trickle down to a higher payout per stream for artists and songwriters.

If that extra dollar means our artists can invest more into their craft, book better studio time, or simply pay their rent a little easier, then we are all for it.

The "Humble" Takeaway

We’re optimistic, but we stay realistic. Streaming is a powerful tool for discovery—it’s how someone in London or Tokyo discovers a Humble House track produced right here in Florida. But it’s just one piece of the puzzle.

While the industry giants debate streaming economics, our focus remains the same:

* Ownership: Owning our masters and publishing ensures that whatever revenue comes in—big or small—stays with the creators.

* Community: Supporting local music goes beyond the stream. Coming to a show in St. Pete, buying a t-shirt, or sharing a track with a friend is still the most direct way to keep indie music alive.

So, keep streaming. Enjoy the access. But remember that there are real people behind those play buttons working hard to bring you the sound of the future.

Stay Humble,

Anthony Keys II

Owner, Humble House Records, LLC.