How and When Do I Get Paid for My Music Streams? | Help Center
Understanding the music streaming payment timeline — when streaming platforms pay, how long it takes, and how ORB Entertainment delivers your earnings.
One of the biggest questions for independent artists is: when will I actually see money from my streams? Here's a clear breakdown of the payment timeline.
## The Streaming Payment Timeline
### 1. Your Music Gets Streamed
When someone plays your song on Spotify, Apple Music, Audiomack, or any other platform, that stream is logged and counted.
### 2. Platforms Calculate Royalties (30-60 Days)
Streaming platforms don't pay in real-time. They typically calculate and report royalties on a monthly basis, with a 30-60 day delay.
### 3. Platforms Send Earnings to ORB
Once platforms finalize their reports, they send the earnings to your distributor (ORB Entertainment).
### 4. ORB Credits Your Wallet
We process the earnings and credit your ORB Wallet. Your balance is shown in Nigerian Naira (₦).
### 5. You Withdraw to Your Bank
Request a withdrawal from your dashboard and the funds are sent to your Nigerian bank account.
## Typical Payment Schedule by Platform
| Platform | Reporting Delay | Typical Payment |
|----------|----------------|------------------|
| Spotify | 2-3 months | Monthly reports |
| Apple Music | 2 months | Monthly reports |
| Audiomack | 2-3 months | Monthly reports |
| Boomplay | 2-3 months | Quarterly reports |
| YouTube Music | 2-3 months | Monthly reports |
## Why Is There a Delay?
The delay exists because:
- Platforms need time to verify stream counts and detect fraud
- Revenue calculations depend on total subscriber numbers and ad revenue
- International payment processing takes time
This delay is industry-standard — every distributor experiences it, not just ORB.
The sooner you release music, the sooner you start earning. Distribute your music to 150+ platforms with ORB Entertainment.
