Not everyone is lucky enough to have a record deal. Fortunately, even without a label contract, there are ways to get your music on streaming services like Spotify. Because there are sales services that take care of exactly that.
Can you upload music directly to Spotify?
In short, the answer is no. In 2018, Spotify introduced a new test function that allowed independent artists to upload their music directly to Spotify. But the tool was discontinued in 2019. In the following we explain how you can still get your music on the music platform.
How to publish music on Spotify
Artists can publish their music on the platform by working with one of the Spotify distribution partners who have served the artist community since the platform was launched.
In recent years, Spotify has greatly improved the way it works with its distribution partners to ensure the quality of metadata and the protection of artists from infringement. They also give their users instant access to Spotify for artists and much more.
In order to get their music files on Spotify, independent artists need to use a digital service provider, also known as a distributor. A distributor is a service that focuses on distributing media to streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and others.
Independent artists register with an online platform and submit their music via local files, which are then forwarded to Spotify. Most of the major record companies ensure that their artists' music is played on Spotify and often act as a DSP themselves..
5 distributor
There are a few things to consider when deciding which distributor is right for you. Some distributors only work on an invitation basis, while others require you to fill out an application which is then either accepted or rejected. There are very different providers whose models can differ greatly from one another. Below is a brief overview of some of the providers:
TuneCore
Pricing: € 9.99 - € 39.99 annually
TuneCore's user interface is easy to understand and not much information is required when editing publications. For some artists this is very convenient. For more established artists or labels who need extensive label copies and information such as barcodes and ISRCs, this is not yet included in the system.
TuneCore charges artists a fee both annually and per release. TuneCore's current prices are € 9.99 per year per single and € 29.99 per year per album for the first year and € 39.99 for each subsequent year.
Spinnup
Pricing: € 9.99 - € 39.99 annually
Spinnup was founded by the Universal Music Group and is a distribution platform aimed at aspiring indie artists. These are artists who appear on UMG's radar and want to gain access to sales with low processing fees and without loss of sales.
Developed as a way for Universal to identify new talent, Spinnup has become an option for those who have already built a fan base and have a ton of material to post. The prices at Spinnup are € 9.99 for a single, € 19.99 for an EP or € 39.99 for an album annually..
AWAL
pricing: Free / 15% of the income
AWAL stands for "Artists Without A Label". They offer a range of services to artists but only work with select clients. Usually they approach these customers themselves or get in touch through a recommendation from one of their artists or A&Rs.
AWAL has it all, including advanced royalty calculation, global marketing, distributor playlist campaigns, sync licensing and funding. You could say that AWAL is more of a label service company than just sales. AWAL does not charge upfront or annual fees and instead simply takes a 15% stake of the revenue they collect for you.
CD Baby
Pricing: $ 9.95- $ 69 per release / 9% of digital sales.
CD Baby is known for being proactive in helping artists unlock all revenue streams. They do this through services like publishing administration and CD & vinyl distribution. Thanks to a recent partnership between Music Gateway and CD Baby, they now also offer synchronization for film and TV placements.
What also makes them more lucrative than other platforms is their one-time fee per release. This makes it easier for indie artists to register their songs with royalty-collecting companies via the platform. CD Baby offers all of its distribution services for $ 9.95 per single and $ 29 per album. You can also upgrade a single from Standard to Pro for $ 20, and for an album for $ 69. CD Baby also takes 9% of your digital sales revenue.
Horus Music
Prices: £ 25- £ 65 per release
Horus Music from the UK offers a wide variety of packages ranging from Marketing Campaigns to Chart Registration & Midem Representation. For artists who want to post content on a regular basis, they also offer an unlimited distribution package for £ 20 annually.
Horus Music also offers advanced royalty tracking software and the ability to create artist profiles and sub-profiles for band members or featured artists. The distribution of the royalties can be determined between the label and the artist as well as between the band members and performers. If you are looking for more than just distribution, Horus also offers label services.
