Economics

While Music Streaming Sales Surge, Singers Still Get Paid a Song

  • Citigroup study finds artists get scant 12% of revenue
  • Report is likely to revive complaints over how pie is split

Photographer: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images

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Creating music pays a little. Marketing it pays a lot.

Musicians received just 12 percent of the $43 billion in sales generated from their work in the U.S. last year, according a report Monday by Citigroup. The figure includes revenue from CD sales, on-demand streaming, advertisements on YouTube, radio royalties and concert tickets.