Grammy-nominated singer Bonnie Tyler may have reached a major streaming milestone, but she says the financial rewards haven’t matched the numbers.
Tyler’s iconic 1983 hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart” reportedly hit 1 billion streams on Spotify in January 2026, earning her a special commemorative plaque. However, the 74-year-old singer told the BBC on January 26 that the income from streaming was “just about nothing.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, just about nothing,” Tyler said, reflecting on the money she’s made from the song’s massive online success.
A Spotify spokesperson told DreamBiz Entertain that “Spotify paid out more than $1.4 million in 2025 for streams of Bonnie Tyler’s catalogue,” highlighting a disconnect between the reported payouts and the singer’s personal take-home.
Despite the financial discrepancy, Tyler’s love for the song remains undiminished. “It’s quite an evergreen song; how many times have you heard it popping up in adverts and movies?” she said. “People just love it… I love it because everyone can’t wait to sing it.”
Tyler admitted she never expected the song to achieve such enduring popularity, as the original version ran eight minutes. “When I recorded the song, I thought no one is going to end up playing this because it’s so long,” she said. A four-minute radio edit eventually dominated the airwaves, spending four weeks at the top of the U.S. charts.
The song has also seen renewed attention in recent years. In 2025, David Guetta’s hit “Together” sampled Tyler’s original, earning her a gold disc and reintroducing the classic to a new generation.
Beyond Spotify, Tyler’s reach extends to YouTube, where the official music video for “Total Eclipse of the Heart” has over 1.2 billion views. Her career has also earned her international recognition, including representing the UK in 2013 and receiving multiple royal honors, such as an MBE from Prince William and a place on Queen Elizabeth’s final Birthday Honours list.
“I’m really happy,” Tyler said of the streaming milestone. “When you think about it, there’s only 8.3 billion people in the world.” Even if the streaming cash doesn’t fully reflect the song’s enduring impact, its legacy remains undeniable.
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