HOW TO GET YOUR MUSIC ON A STREAMING WEBSITE
Streaming is how most people listen to music now, and getting your own tunes on there is easier than you might think. To recap, instead of flogging CDs from a rickety merch table, musicians put their songs on an online platform, let punters listen for free, then grumble about the insultingly small payments they receive each month (let’s not open that can of worms). But there are a few hoops to jump through first.
Do I need to be any good to get on a streaming platform?
Nope. That’s the beautiful thing. While a traditional record label might overlook your genius, screw up your dreams into a tiny ball and show you the door, there’s no talent filter on streaming services like Spotify. Whether you’re the reincarnated spirit of Jimi Hendrix or a deluded middle-aged man farting into a penny whistle, everyone’s welcome at the party. You do still need to own (or have cleared) everything you upload, and you shouldn’t buy fake plays – Spotify now penalises distributors whose music is linked to artificial streaming.
So is it a case of just uploading my music?
Not quite. You can’t upload to Spotify directly. If you’re a signed artist, your record label will take care of the arrangements, but independent musicians need to go through a distributor (sometimes called an aggregator).
What will a distributor do for me?
Clearly, Spotify doesn’t have time to deal with every tortured bedsit visionary, so the distributor acts as the go-between and handles the admin. You can expect them to deliver your music to Spotify and other platforms, sort out the technical details, and collect and pay out your royalties. Most ask you to submit a release a couple of weeks before it goes live, so don’t leave it to the last minute.
How do I know which one to go with?
If you’re new to all this, it’s probably best to stick with the big names. TuneCore, CD Baby, Ditto Music and DistroKid are all respectable, and Spotify’s guide to getting music on Spotify lists the distributors it recommends. The key difference is how you pay. Many, including TuneCore and Ditto, now charge a yearly subscription for unlimited releases and let you keep 100% of your royalties. CD Baby works differently: a one-off fee per release, plus a 9% cut of what you earn. Prices change often, so check each pricing page before you buy.
Our advice? Pick the model that suits how often you release (a one-off fee can work out cheaper if you only put out the odd single, while a subscription usually wins if you release regularly). Check what happens to your music if you stop paying, then visit a few musician forums to make sure your chosen distributor hasn’t got a reputation for shafting its artists.
Will I actually get paid?
Eventually, maybe. Since April 2024, a track needs at least 1,000 streams in the previous 12 months before it earns any royalties on Spotify, and distributors often hold back payouts until you reach a minimum balance. Treat streaming as a way to get heard first and a way to earn second.
What should I do once my music is live?
Claim your profile on Spotify for Artists. It lets you customise your artist page, see who’s listening, and pitch unreleased tracks to Spotify’s playlist editors ahead of release.
