Trivium’s Matt Heafy earns as much from Twitch as his band does from streaming their music
A recent report reveals that the video game platform is becoming more lucrative for musicians than streaming services like Spotify.
Photo: Mark Horton / Getty
Matt Heafy’s monthly earnings from Twitch are comparable to that which his band, Trivium, make from music streaming platforms, according to a report by former Spotify Chief Economist Will Page.
Heafy, who has about 220,000 followers on Twitch, began livestreaming on the platform back in 2018, and has turned the practice into a near-daily routine. Twitch is primarily known as a platform for video game live-streamers.
According to the New York Times – which cites Page’s extensive report on streaming economics – Heafy collects “just under $10,000” a month through his Twitch channel, a figure slightly less than Trivium’s “average of $11,000 a month” from music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
During his Twitch sessions, Heafy plays guitar, teaches technique and plays video games. The 35-year-old told the New York Times that the idea of fans tuning in has helped him stay inspired on the instrument.
“Even if I don’t feel like practicing, I know people are going to be there who want to hear a couple hours of their favourite Trivium songs,” he said. “So I make sure I’m there to make their day good.”
Page’s report also cited other examples of artists who have earned more from Twitch than from music streaming services. Laura Shigihara, the video game composer best known for her work on Plants vs. Zombies, reportedly earned roughly $8,000 a month on Twitch versus $700 a month from music streaming.
Revenue generated via music streaming is still a contentious topic, with artists big and small continuing to criticise the platforms for allegedly paying out trivial sums.
In April 2021, over 150 artists signed an open letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging reform in how streaming services pay artists. Paul McCartney, Damon Albarn, Kate Bush, Chris Martin and Noel Gallagher were among the first batch of signatories.
Read Will Page’s full report, here.