Introduction

In today’s digital age, YouTube has become a powerful platform for musicians to showcase their talent, connect with their audience, and even earn money. With over 2 billion logged-in monthly active users, YouTube offers a massive potential audience for musicians to share their music and monetize their content. In this article, we will explore a few strategies on how to make money on YouTube as a musician.

How To Make Money On YouTube (in 6 Steps)

1. Create and Optimize Your YouTube Channel

The first step in how to make money on YouTube as a musician is to create a YouTube channel dedicated to your music. When setting up your channel, choose a clear and catchy name that reflects your brand or music style. Make sure to also use an attractive profile picture and banner image that represents your music.

Once your channel is set up, optimize it for search engines by using relevant keywords in your channel description and video titles. This will help your channel rank higher in YouTube’s search results and attract more viewers.

2. Post High-Quality Content Regularly

Consistency is key on YouTube. To build an engaged audience, you need to post high-quality content regularly. As a musician, you can upload various types of videos to your channel, such as music videos, live performances, covers, tutorials, vlogs, and behind-the-scenes footage.

Make sure that your videos are well-produced and visually appealing, with good lighting, clear audio, and engaging visuals. You can also use YouTube’s built-in editing tools or other video editing software to enhance your videos and make them stand out.

3. Engage with Your Audience

Engaging with your audience is crucial for building a loyal fanbase on YouTube. Respond to comments on your videos, ask for feedback, and encourage your viewers to like, share, and subscribe to your channel. You can also interact with your fans on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, to build a strong community around your music.

You could also collaborate with other YouTubers. Collaborating with other YouTubers can be a great way to expand your reach on YouTube and attract more viewers to your channel. Look for other YouTubers who have a similar audience or music style and collaborate with them on a video or a song. This can help you tap into their audience and expose your music to a wider demographic.

4. Monetize Your Videos with Ads

One of the main ways musicians can make money on YouTube is through ads. YouTube allows content creators to monetize their videos by displaying ads before, during, or after their videos. You can earn money from these ads based on the number of views, clicks, or impressions they receive.

To enable ads on your videos, you need to join the YouTube Partner Program and link your channel to a Google AdSense account, which will handle the monetization process. Once your channel is approved, you can choose which videos you want to monetize and YouTube will automatically display ads on them.

To monetize your content on YouTube, you need to meet YouTube’s Partner Program requirements, which include having at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months. Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program and start earning money from your videos.

It’s important to note that the amount of money you can make from ads on YouTube varies depending on various factors, such as the number of views, the type of ads, the location of your viewers, and the engagement rate of your videos.

Generally, the more views and engagement your videos receive, the higher your ad revenue will be. However, the average revenue per thousand views can range from $0.25 to $4, so it’s important to keep in mind that earning significant income solely from ads may require a large number of views.

5. Promote Your Music and Merchandise

YouTube can serve as a powerful marketing tool for promoting your music and merchandise. In addition to displaying ads on your videos, you can also promote your original music, albums, merchandise, and other products through your YouTube channel.

Include links to your music and merchandise in the description box of your videos, and use YouTube’s end screens and annotations to direct viewers to your website, online store, or other platforms where they can purchase your products. You can also create dedicated videos to promote your music and merchandise, such as music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, or tutorials related to your music.

In addition to promoting your merchandise through ads and crowdfunding, you can also sell your merchandise and music directly to your fans on YouTube. You can use YouTube’s merchandise feature to sell your own branded merchandise, such as T-shirts, posters, albums, or other products, directly from your channel.

Selling merchandise and music directly to your fans through YouTube can be a profitable way to monetize your channel. You can create your own branded merchandise, such as T-shirts, posters, albums, or other products, and promote them in your videos, description box, and other channel features. YouTube’s merchandise feature allows you to sell your products directly from your channel, making it easy for your fans to support you and purchase your merchandise.

Similarly, you can use YouTube’s music feature to sell your music on platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, or Spotify. You can upload your original music to YouTube and direct your fans to purchase your music on these platforms. This can be a great way to earn revenue from your music while also increasing your exposure and building your fanbase.

It’s important to market and promote your merchandise and music effectively on YouTube. You can create dedicated videos to showcase your merchandise or music, such as music videos, behind-the-scenes footage, or tutorials related to your products. You can also use YouTube’s end screens, annotations, community tab, and other features to direct viewers to your online store or music platforms where they can make purchases.

Offering exclusive discounts, limited edition products, or personalized experiences to your fans can also incentivize them to purchase your merchandise and music.

6. Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships

As your YouTube channel grows, you may also have the opportunity to collaborate with brands and earn money through brand partnerships and sponsorships. Brands are often interested in collaborating with musicians on YouTube to reach their target audience and promote their products or services. When considering brand partnerships, make sure to choose brands that align with your music style and values. Authenticity is key in building trust with your audience, so only promote products or services that you genuinely believe in.

You can include sponsored content in your videos, such as product reviews, endorsements, or sponsored shoutouts, and disclose the sponsorship according to YouTube’s guidelines. Negotiate fair compensation for your brand partnerships, taking into account factors such as your channel’s reach, engagement rate, and the scope of the sponsorship. Brand partnerships can be a lucrative source of income for musicians on YouTube, but it’s important to strike the right balance between sponsored content and maintaining the integrity of your music and brand.

These are six tips for how to make money on YouTube as a musician. In the next section, we’ll share an additional way to supplement your income. Then we’ll share examples of video topics that you can use when creating your next videos.

Additional Opportunity For Income

Crowdfunding and Patreon

Although this article focuses on how to make money on YouTube, consider using other platforms to build your income. Crowdfunding platforms, such as Kickstarter, GoFundMe, or Patreon, allow you to raise funds from your fans and supporters to support your music career, create new content, or fund specific projects, such as recording an album or going on tour.

You can promote your crowdfunding campaign on your YouTube channel and offer exclusive rewards to your supporters, such as early access to your music, behind-the-scenes footage, merchandise, or personalized experiences. Crowdfunding can not only provide you with the funds you need for your music projects but also help you build a loyal fanbase and strengthen your relationship with your fans.

15 Video Ideas for Musicians on YouTube

Creating great content is key for having great viewership. Here are 15 helpful ideas for videos that’ll help you make money on YouTube.

1. Music Performance Videos

One of the most straightforward and effective video ideas for musicians on YouTube is to create music performance videos. You can film yourself or your band performing your original music, cover songs, or even live performances. Music performance videos can help you showcase your talent, connect with your audience, and give them a taste of your music in a visually engaging way.

2. Music Videos

Music videos are an essential tool for promoting your music and enhancing your brand as a musician. You can create professional music videos for your original songs, complete with a storyline, choreography, and visual effects, or create lyric videos or animated videos that complement your music. Music videos can help you tell a story, create a visual identity for your music, and attract new fans.

3. Behind-the-Scenes Footage

Fans love getting a behind-the-scenes look at the making of their favorite music. You can create videos that take your viewers behind the scenes of your music production process, recording sessions, rehearsals, or music video shoots. This can give your fans an exclusive peek into your creative process and deepen their connection with your music.

4. Q&A Videos

Q&A videos are a great way to engage with your fans and answer their questions about your music, inspirations, and personal life. You can collect questions from your fans through comments, social media, or email, and create videos where you answer their questions in a conversational and authentic manner. This can help you build a deeper relationship with your fans and give them insights into your music and life as a musician.

5. Music Tutorials

Share your knowledge and skills as a musician by creating tutorial videos. You can create videos that teach your fans how to play your songs on different instruments, how to write lyrics, how to produce music, or how to perform specific techniques. Music tutorials can position you as an expert in your field and provide valuable content for aspiring musicians and fans alike.

6. Cover Songs

Cover songs are a popular video idea for musicians on YouTube. You can create cover versions of popular songs, songs from your favorite artists, or even songs from different genres. Cover songs can help you showcase your vocal or instrumental skills, and they can also be a way to attract new viewers who may be searching for covers of their favorite songs.

7. Vlogs

Vlogs, or video blogs, are a popular video format on YouTube that allows you to share your daily life, experiences, and adventures with your fans. As a musician, you can create vlogs that document your music tours, studio sessions, gigs, or even your personal life as a musician. Vlogs can provide a behind-the-scenes look into your life as a musician and create a more personal connection with your fans.

8. Studio Diaries

Studio diaries are videos that document the process of recording an album, EP, or single. You can take your viewers on a journey through the recording process, from pre-production to tracking, mixing, and mastering. Studio diaries can be a fascinating and educational video idea for musicians on YouTube, as they allow you to share your creative process, challenges, and successes with your fans.

9. Music Challenges

Music challenges are a fun and interactive video idea for musicians on YouTube. You can create videos where you challenge yourself or other musicians to cover a song in a different style, create a song using specific elements, or perform a musical task within a time limit. Music challenges can be a creative way to engage with your audience, showcase your skills, and even collaborate with other musicians.

10. Songwriting Process Videos

Songwriting is a crucial aspect of being a musician, and sharing your songwriting process on YouTube can be intriguing for your fans. You can create videos that take your viewers through your songwriting process, from brainstorming ideas to creating lyrics, melodies, and arrangements.

Songwriting process videos can provide insights into your creative process, inspirations, and techniques, and allow your fans to witness the birth of your music.

Not only is this a great way to make money on YouTube, you could turn your videos in courses on your personal website or on websies like Udemy.

11. Instrument Showcases

If you play a unique or rare instrument, creating instrument showcase videos can be a great way to share your expertise and passion with your audience. You can create videos that showcase different instruments, their history, construction, and playing techniques.

Instrument showcase videos can be educational and entertaining, and they can help you establish yourself as an authority in your niche and attract viewers who share your interest in a particular instrument.

12. Music Gear Reviews

Musicians are often interested in learning about different music gear, such as instruments, amplifiers, effects pedals, software, and recording equipment. You can create videos where you review and demonstrate different music gear, share your experiences and opinions, and provide recommendations to your viewers.

Music gear review videos can be helpful for aspiring musicians who are looking for advice on what gear to use, and they can also be a way to monetize your content through affiliate marketing or sponsored reviews.

13. Music Industry Insights

As a musician, you have firsthand experience with the music industry, and sharing your insights and knowledge can be valuable to other musicians and music enthusiasts.

You can create videos where you discuss different aspects of the music industry, such as marketing and promotion, music distribution, copyright, royalties, or touring. Music industry insight videos can position you as an expert in your field, provide educational content, and help you connect with other musicians and industry professionals.

You repurpose the script where you explain your insights into an article. If you are writing solid articles on your website, not only are you continuing to make money on YouTube, but you’ll also be able to get ad revenue on your personal site.

14. Music Documentary

If you have an interesting story or background as a musician, creating a music documentary can be a compelling video idea. You can create a documentary-style video that tells your story, from your musical journey and inspirations to your struggles, achievements, and future aspirations.

Music documentaries can be personal and emotional, and they can help your fans connect with you on a deeper level and gain a better understanding of your music and personality.

15. Music Challenges from Fans

Another engaging video idea for musicians on YouTube is to accept challenges from your fans. You can ask your fans to challenge you to create a song, perform a specific task, or even collaborate with them in creating content. Music challenges from fans can create a sense of community and interactivity, and they can also provide a unique opportunity for you to showcase your creativity and versatility as a musician.

You can create videos where you accept challenges from your fans and document your journey in fulfilling those challenges. This can include challenges to cover a song in a different genre, compose a song with specific elements or restrictions, or even perform a challenging musical task. Music challenges from fans can be a fun and interactive way to engage with your audience, show off your skills, and create unique and entertaining content.

Fan engagement is the key way to make money on YouTube. If you can build your fanbase on the site, you can monetize your audience with an authentic connection.

Conclusion

YouTube offers a plethora of video ideas for musicians to create engaging, informative, and entertaining content. From studio diaries and live performances to music challenges, behind-the-scenes videos, collaborations, fan interactions, music education, and vlogs, there are numerous opportunities for musicians to connect with their audience, showcase their talents, and build a loyal fan base on YouTube. Prioritizing added value to your viewers will help you make money on YouTube.

The key is to be creative, authentic, and consistent in your content creation, and to engage with your audience actively to foster a thriving community around your music.

Additional Reading

Now that you’ve learned a few tips about how to make money on YouTube, take some time to read our other articles. Want to learn about two of the top plugins for Equalization? Read our article comparing iZotope and FabFilter.

You can also learn about perfecting your music metadata.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

What are Spotify Niche Mixes?

Spotify Niche Mixes are personalized listening recommendations that come in different forms. Mood Mixes, Decades Mixes, and Genre Mixes help listeners find the perfect playlist that matches their mood and introduces them to new artists they’ll love.

To expand their Mixes family, they’ve introduced Niche Mixes, which offer tens of thousands of personalized playlists that cater to anything listeners can think of.

Spotify has a vast library of music, and it offers a wide variety of playlists and mixes for users to discover new music or rediscover old favorites. One type of playlist that has gained popularity in recent years is the niche mix.

Niche mixes are playlists that are curated around a particular theme, genre, or mood. They are designed to appeal to a specific audience and feature a selection of songs that fit the theme. For example, a niche mix could be focused on 90s hip-hop, acoustic covers, or songs for a summer road trip.

How to access your Niche Mix?

To access your Niche Mixes, go to the Made For You hub in the Search tab, where you can find 5-10 Mixes that we think you’ll like. You can also search for an activity, vibe, or aesthetic and add “mix” at the end to get super specific. The more Mixes you search for, the more music you can discover. From the Feel Good Morning Mix to the Night Time Mix, there’s a Mix for any moment or occasion.

Each Mix combines familiar music from artists, genres, and decades you already know and love with songs we think you’ll enjoy that match the moment. To keep things interesting, each Mix updates daily, so you can always find your next favorite vibe. Mixes are available globally to Free and Premium users who search Spotify in English. Discover the super-specific playlist that fits the moment you need music.

Niche Mixes Details (for nerds)

Spotify has a team of editors who curate these niche mixes, and they are constantly adding new playlists to cater to different audiences. Users can also create their own niche mixes by selecting songs that fit a particular theme or mood and adding them to a playlist.

One of the benefits of niche mixes is that they allow users to discover new music that they may not have found otherwise. For example, if a user enjoys a particular niche mix that features indie folk music, they may discover a new artist or song that they enjoy and add it to their own music library.

Additionally, niche mixes can help users to create a specific atmosphere or mood. If a user is hosting a party, for example, they could choose a niche mix that is focused on dance music or upbeat pop songs to create a lively atmosphere. Similarly, if a user is studying or working and wants to create a calming environment, they could choose a niche mix that is focused on ambient or instrumental music.

Another advantage of niche mixes is that they can be personalized to a user’s taste. Spotify’s algorithms use machine learning and user data to suggest niche mixes that are tailored to a user’s listening habits. For example, if a user frequently listens to electronic dance music, Spotify may suggest a niche mix that is focused on that genre.

Overall, Spotify niche mixes are a great way for users to discover new music, create a specific atmosphere or mood, and personalize their listening experience. Whether you’re looking for a playlist to help you focus while studying, a mix to get you through a long workout, or just some new songs to add to your library, Spotify has a niche mix for you.

Another New Feature: Spotify DJ

As you can see from the niche mixes, Spotify values personalizing the listening experience. They’ve recently unveiled another way to use our listening features to help us enjoy the platform. It has been successful in offering personalized recommendations to its users through features like Discover Weekly and Wrapped campaigns, and it is now taking this a step further with its new feature called DJ.

DJ is an AI guide that personalizes the listening experience for users by selecting the right piece of music for each moment in time. It does this by scanning the latest music releases and taking into account the user’s listening history. The AI guide then delivers a stream of songs that are curated specifically for the user, along with commentary about the tracks and artists.

What sets DJ apart from other music recommendation features is that it uses generative AI through the use of OpenAI technology. The platform’s music editors provide insightful facts about the music, artists, or genres being listened to, allowing for a deeper understanding of the music. The combination of Spotify’s personalization technology and generative AI has allowed the platform to create an experience that feels completely personal for each user.

Another unique aspect of DJ is the use of a dynamic AI voice platform from the platform’s Sonantic acquisition. The platform partnered with its Head of Cultural Partnerships, Xavier “X” Jernigan, to create the voice model for the DJ. X served as one of the hosts on Spotify’s first morning show, The Get Up, and his personality and voice resonated with the listeners, resulting in a loyal following for the podcast. His voice is the first model for the DJ, and the platform plans to continue iterating and innovating on the feature.

DJ is rolling out in English starting today for Spotify Premium users in the U.S. and Canada. To access the feature, users need to head to their Music Feed on the Home section of the Spotify mobile app on their iOS or Android device and tap the Play button on the DJ card. The DJ will then serve a lineup of music alongside short commentary on the songs and artists, picked specifically for the user. If the user isn’t feeling the vibe, they can simply hit the DJ button at the bottom right of the screen to be taken to a different genre, artist, or mood.

Spotify’s dedication to personalization has been a key factor in its success as a music streaming platform. By utilizing AI technology to personalize the listening experience, the platform has been able to create a deeper connection between users and their music. With the introduction of DJ, Spotify is taking personalization to a whole new level by offering a completely unique and personalized listening experience. As the platform continues to innovate and iterate on its products, users can expect even more exciting features in the future.

What’s The Value of Personalization?

The value of music discovery on Spotify is multifaceted, providing benefits to both users and artists. Personalization is the core of Spotify’s Niche Mixes.

Here are some key points that highlight the value of music discovery on Spotify:

1. Exploration and New Discoveries: Music discovery on Spotify enables users to explore and discover new artists, genres, and songs that they may not have come across otherwise. Spotify’s algorithm-based recommendations, personalized playlists, and curated content introduce users to a wide range of music, helping them expand their musical horizons and discover hidden gems.
2. Tailored Listening Experience: Spotify’s music discovery features create a tailored listening experience for users by offering recommendations that align with their unique tastes and preferences. This personalized approach enhances the listening experience, allowing users to discover new music that resonates with their individual interests and moods.
3. Exposure for Lesser-Known Artists: Music discovery on Spotify can be a game-changer for lesser-known artists, providing them with a platform to gain exposure and reach new audiences. Through personalized playlists, algorithmic recommendations, and editorial playlists, Spotify helps promote emerging artists and provides them with a chance to be discovered by millions of users worldwide.
4. Increased Streams and Fan Engagement: Music discovery on Spotify can lead to increased streams and fan engagement for artists. When users discover an artist through Spotify’s recommendations or playlists, they are more likely to engage with their music, follow the artist, and explore their catalog further. This can result in higher streams, increased fan engagement, and potentially more revenue for artists.
5. Music Trends and Data Insights: Spotify’s music discovery features also provide valuable data insights to artists, labels, and the music industry. By analyzing user behavior, listening habits, and engagement with recommendations, artists and industry professionals can gain insights into music trends, audience preferences, and optimize their promotional strategies.
6. Enhanced User Retention and Loyalty: Music discovery features on Spotify also contribute to enhanced user retention and loyalty. When users consistently discover new music that aligns with their interests and preferences, they are more likely to continue using Spotify as their go-to music streaming platform. This promotes user loyalty and encourages users to remain engaged with the platform over time.
7. Diverse Listening Experience: Music discovery on Spotify promotes diversity in music consumption, exposing users to a wide variety of artists, genres, and songs from different cultures, backgrounds, and styles. This fosters inclusivity and broadens users’ musical horizons, promoting diversity and representation in the music industry.

In conclusion, music discovery on Spotify provides a wealth of value to both users and artists. It enables users to explore new music, enhances their listening experience, promotes emerging artists, provides data insights to the music industry, enhances user retention and loyalty, and promotes diversity in music consumption. Overall, Spotify’s music discovery features are a key element of its offering, shaping the way users interact with music and providing a platform for artists to gain exposure and connect with fans.

Additional Reading

Now that you’ve learned how to access your Niche Mixes, take some time to read more of our articles.

Do you use orchestral strings instruments in your mixes? Read our article about the 6 Steps for Success in Music Streaming. You can also learn the fundamentals of taxes as a musician here.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

Intro to Music Distributors

Choosing a music distributor has never been easier. Gone are the days when musicians had to rely on record labels to get their music out to their listeners. With the advent of digital music distribution services, independent artists can now easily distribute their music to a global audience, without the need for a record label or a physical distribution network.

Digital music distributors services are essentially platforms that allow musicians to distribute their music to various digital music stores and streaming services, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more. These services offer a wide range of features and pricing plans, making it essential for artists to carefully consider their options when choosing a distribution service.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key factors that musicians should consider when choosing a digital music distribution service.

Distribution Locations

The first thing to consider when choosing a digital music distributor is the distribution network. The distribution network refers to the platforms and stores that the service can distribute your music to. The more extensive the network, the more opportunities you have to reach a global audience.

Some distribution services only offer distribution to a few select platforms, while others offer distribution to a vast network of stores and streaming services. It’s important to choose a service that can distribute your music to as many platforms as possible, to increase your exposure and reach.

Pricing

Pricing is another crucial factor to consider when choosing a digital music distribution service. The pricing plans of these services vary widely, and it’s important to choose a plan that suits your budget and needs.

Some services charge a one-time fee per release, while others charge an annual fee or a percentage of your revenue. Some services also offer different pricing plans with different features, so it’s important to compare the plans and choose the one that offers the best value for money.

Royalty Rates

The royalty rates offered by digital music distributor are also an important consideration. The royalty rates refer to the percentage of revenue that you’ll receive from the platforms and stores where your music is distributed.

Some services offer higher royalty rates than others, and it’s important to choose a service that offers competitive rates to ensure that you receive a fair share of the revenue generated by your music.

Features and Tools

The features and tools offered by digital music distributor can also be a deciding factor when choosing a service. Some services offer advanced features such as playlist pitching, social media promotion, and analytics tracking, while others offer more basic features.

It’s important to choose a service that offers the features and tools that you need to promote your music and reach your target audience. For example, if you’re an independent artist with a small fan base, you may need a service that offers social media promotion and playlist pitching to help you reach a larger audience.

Customer Support

Customer support is another crucial factor to consider when choosing a digital music distribution service. You’ll want to choose a service that offers reliable and responsive customer support to help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Some services offer email support only, while others offer phone support, live chat support, or a combination of these options. It’s important to choose a service that offers the level of support that you need to ensure that your music is distributed successfully.

Reputation and User Reviews

Finally, it’s important to consider the reputation and user reviews of the digital music distribution service. You’ll want to choose a service that has a good reputation in the industry and positive user reviews.

Research the service online, read reviews from other users, and check out their social media pages to get a sense of their reputation and the quality of their service. Choosing a reputable service can help ensure that your music is distributed successfully and that you receive the support that you need.

Popular Music Distributors

DistroKid

DistroKid is a popular music distributor that has gained popularity among independent artists. The company was founded in 2013 by Philip Kaplan, a tech entrepreneur who previously co-founded AdBrite, a successful online advertising platform. DistroKid’s mission is to help independent musicians and labels distribute their music to various streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Deezer, among others.

One of the major advantages of using DistroKid is that it allows artists to keep 100% of their royalties. DistroKid does not charge any commission on the sales made by the artist, unlike other distribution companies that take a percentage of the artist’s revenue. Additionally, DistroKid allows artists to distribute unlimited songs and albums at a flat rate of $19.99 per year. This is a great deal for independent artists who produce a lot of music.

Another advantage of using DistroKid is that it provides a range of additional features, including YouTube monetization, Shazam and Instagram integration, and the ability to release music under multiple artist names. DistroKid also offers a range of promotional tools, such as a feature that allows artists to pitch their music to playlist curators and a service that promotes new releases on social media.

One of the downsides of using DistroKid is that it does not offer physical distribution services, which may be a disadvantage for artists who want to distribute their music on vinyl or CD. Additionally, DistroKid does not provide any mastering or mixing services, which may be a disadvantage for artists who do not have the resources to hire professional mastering and mixing engineers.

RouteNote

RouteNote is another popular music distributor that has gained popularity among independent artists. The company was founded in 2007 by Steven Finch, a musician and tech entrepreneur. RouteNote’s mission is to help independent musicians and labels distribute their music to various streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music, among others.

One of the advantages of using RouteNote is that it allows artists to distribute their music for free. RouteNote does not charge any upfront fees to distribute music to streaming services. Instead, RouteNote takes a commission on the artist’s revenue. RouteNote offers two commission models: the first model allows artists to keep 85% of their revenue, while the second model allows artists to keep 100% of their revenue in exchange for a yearly fee of $30.

Another advantage of using RouteNote is that it offers a range of additional features, including YouTube monetization, Shazam and Instagram integration, and the ability to release music under multiple artist names. RouteNote also offers a range of promotional tools, such as a feature that allows artists to pitch their music to playlist curators and a service that promotes new releases on social media.

One of the downsides of using RouteNote is that it can be more expensive than other distribution companies for artists who generate a lot of revenue. Since RouteNote takes a commission on the artist’s revenue, artists who generate a lot of revenue may end up paying more in commission fees than they would with other distribution companies that charge a flat fee.

LANDR

LANDR is a music distributor that was founded in 2014 by Pascal Pilon, a tech entrepreneur. LANDR’s mission is to help independent musicians and labels distribute their music to various streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music, among others. LANDR is unique in that it also offers AI-powered mastering and distribution services. This means that artists can use LANDR’s AI-powered mastering software to master their tracks before distributing them to streaming services.

One of the advantages of using LANDR is that it offers a range of additional services, including AI-powered mastering, distribution, and promotion. LANDR’s mastering service uses AI algorithms to analyze and enhance the sound of the track, resulting in a professional sound quality. LANDR also offers promotional tools, such as a feature that allows artists to pitch their music to playlist curators and a service that promotes new releases on social media.

Another advantage of using LANDR is that it offers physical distribution services. This means that artists can distribute their music on vinyl, CD, and other physical formats in addition to streaming services. LANDR also offers a range of pricing plans, including a free plan that allows artists to distribute up to two tracks per year, as well as paid plans that offer additional features and distribution options.

One of the downsides of using LANDR is that it can be more expensive than other distribution companies, particularly for artists who want to use its mastering services. Additionally, some artists may prefer to use human mastering engineers rather than AI-powered mastering software.

Other Music Distributors

In addition to DistroKid, RouteNote, and LANDR, there are several other music distribution companies that artists can choose from. Some of these companies include CD Baby, TuneCore, Symphonic Distribution, and Ditto Music, among others.

CD Baby is a popular music distributor that has been around since 1998. The company offers distribution services for both digital and physical formats, including vinyl, CD, and cassette. CD Baby also offers a range of promotional tools, such as a feature that allows artists to pitch their music to playlist curators and a service that promotes new releases on social media. CD Baby takes a commission on the artist’s revenue, but the commission rate is lower than some other distribution companies.

TuneCore is another popular music distributor that has been around since 2005. The company offers distribution services for digital formats only, including streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. TuneCore also offers a range of promotional tools, such as a feature that allows artists to pitch their music to playlist curators and a service that promotes new releases on social media. TuneCore charges a flat fee for distribution services, with pricing based on the number of tracks and albums being distributed.

Symphonic Distribution is a music distributor that offers distribution services for both digital and physical formats, including vinyl, CD, and cassette. The company also offers a range of promotional tools, such as a feature that allows artists to pitch their music to playlist curators and a service that promotes new releases on social media. Symphonic Distribution takes a commission on the artist’s revenue, but the commission rate is lower than some other distribution companies.

Ditto Music is a music distributor that offers distribution services for digital formats only, including streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. The company also offers a range of promotional tools, such as a feature that allows artists to pitch their music to playlist curators and a service that promotes new releases on social media. Ditto Music charges a flat fee for distribution services, with pricing based on the number of tracks and albums being distributed.

Comparison of Music Distributors

When comparing music distribution companies, there are several factors that artists should consider, including pricing, additional services, promotional tools, and revenue sharing.

In terms of pricing, DistroKid and RouteNote are two of the most affordable music distributors, with DistroKid charging a flat fee of $19 per year for unlimited distribution and RouteNote offering a free plan with 85% revenue share. However, LANDR and some other distribution companies can be more expensive, particularly for artists who want to use additional services such as mastering.

In terms of additional services, LANDR stands out with its AI-powered mastering service, physical distribution options, and promotional tools. Other distribution companies, such as CD Baby and Symphonic Distribution, also offer physical distribution options, while TuneCore and Ditto Music focus solely on digital distribution.

When it comes to promotional tools, most music distribution companies offer features that allow artists to pitch their music to playlist curators and promote their new releases on social media. However, LANDR and CD Baby stand out with their additional promotional tools, such as playlist placement services and email marketing campaigns.

Revenue sharing is also an important factor for artists to consider. Most music distribution companies take a commission on the artist’s revenue, with rates varying from company to company. DistroKid, RouteNote, and CD Baby offer some of the highest revenue shares, while LANDR and Symphonic Distribution take a higher commission.

Conclusion

Overall, choosing a music distributor depends on the artist’s individual needs and preferences. For artists who prioritize affordability and unlimited distribution options, DistroKid and RouteNote are great choices. LANDR offers a unique combination of AI-powered mastering and distribution services, making it a good option for artists looking for a one-stop-shop. CD Baby and Symphonic Distribution offer additional physical distribution options and promotional tools, while TuneCore and Ditto Music specialize in digital distribution.

Regardless of which music distributor an artist chooses, it’s important to remember that distribution is just one aspect of a successful music career. Artists should also focus on creating high-quality music, building a strong fan base, and engaging with their audience through social media and live performances. With the right combination of hard work, talent, and smart distribution choices, any artist can achieve success in the music industry.

Additional Reading

Do you use orchestral strings instruments in your mixes? Read our article about the 6 Steps for Success in Music Streaming. You can also learn the fundamentals of taxes as a musician here.

Here are tips about how to run a successful record label.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

Introduction to Music Streaming

Music streaming websites have become the go-to platforms for artists and music lovers alike. With over 450 million paid subscribers worldwide, music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal have fundamentally changed the way people consume and discover music. This has also led to a significant shift in the music industry, where streaming has become the primary source of revenue for many artists.

However, succeeding on music streaming websites is not easy. With millions of songs available on these platforms, it can be challenging for new and independent artists to stand out and attract listeners. In this article, we will discuss some of the strategies that artists can use to succeed on music streaming websites.

Six Steps for Success

1. Focus on Creating Quality Music

The first step in finding music streaming success as an artist is to focus on creating high-quality music.

Creating quality music is crucial for achieving success on music streaming platforms. In a saturated and competitive industry, having high-quality music sets an artist apart from the crowd and increases the chances of attracting and retaining listeners on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. In this article, we will delve into the reasons why focusing on creating quality music is essential for music streaming success.

First and foremost, quality music is the foundation of an artist’s brand and reputation. Music streaming platforms are flooded with a vast amount of content, ranging from amateur recordings to professional productions. In this saturated landscape, it is essential for artists to create music that stands out and captures the attention of listeners.

Quality music not only showcases an artist’s talent and creativity, but it also reflects their dedication to their craft and professionalism. By consistently delivering high-quality music, artists can build a positive reputation among listeners, fellow musicians, and industry professionals, which can open doors to opportunities such as collaborations, endorsements, and media coverage.

Secondly, quality music is more likely to resonate with listeners and elicit an emotional response. Music is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, create connections, and leave a lasting impact on listeners. High-quality music that is well-crafted, well-produced, and well-performed has the potential to move and captivate listeners, resulting in a deeper connection and engagement with the music.

When listeners are emotionally connected to an artist’s music, they are more likely to become loyal fans, share the music with others, and support the artist by streaming, purchasing, and attending live shows. In contrast, low-quality music that lacks artistic integrity or fails to connect with listeners is likely to be quickly overlooked or dismissed, hindering an artist’s chances of success on music streaming platforms.

Thirdly, quality music is essential for gaining and maintaining traction on music streaming platforms. On streaming platforms, algorithms play a significant role in recommending music to users, determining playlists, and influencing listener behavior. These algorithms take into account various factors, including the quality and popularity of music, when deciding what content to promote.

Higher-quality music that resonates with listeners is more likely to receive positive reviews, generate more streams, and gain traction in playlists and recommendations. As a result, quality music has a higher likelihood of being discovered by new listeners and gaining momentum, leading to increased exposure and potential success on music streaming platforms.

Furthermore, quality music is crucial for building a loyal and engaged fanbase. Today’s music consumers have access to an overwhelming amount of content, and their attention spans are often short. To capture and retain the attention of listeners, artists need to create music that is compelling, memorable, and distinctive.

Quality music that showcases an artist’s unique style, talent, and creativity is more likely to stand out and capture the interest of listeners. When listeners connect with an artist’s music on an emotional level, they are more likely to become loyal fans who actively support the artist’s career by streaming their music, following them on social media, attending their live shows, and purchasing their merchandise. Building a loyal and engaged fanbase is crucial for sustaining a successful music career, and quality music serves as the foundation for cultivating such a fanbase.

Moreover, quality music is essential for garnering critical acclaim and industry recognition. In the music industry, critical acclaim and industry recognition can have a significant impact on an artist’s career. Music critics, award shows, and industry professionals often evaluate the quality and artistic merit of music when deciding on nominations, awards, and partnerships.

High-quality music that showcases an artist’s artistic integrity, creativity, and skill is more likely to receive positive reviews, awards, and recognition, which can boost an artist’s credibility, visibility, and industry connections. Recognition from industry insiders can open doors to new opportunities, such as collaborations with established artists, record deals, and sync licensing deals, which can further propel an artist’s career and increase their success on music streaming platforms.

In addition, quality music contributes to a positive user experience on music streaming platforms. User experience plays a crucial role in the success of any digital platform, including music streaming platforms. When listeners have a positive experience while listening to an artist’s music, they are more likely to engage with the platform, spend more time exploring different artists and genres, and continue using the platform regularly.

On the other hand, if listeners encounter low-quality music with poor production value, weak performances, or unappealing content, it can result in a negative user experience, leading to decreased engagement and potentially causing them to switch to other platforms or abandon streaming altogether. Therefore, by focusing on creating quality music, artists can contribute to a positive user experience on music streaming platforms, which can lead to increased listener retention, engagement, and ultimately, success.

Furthermore, quality music has a better chance of receiving media coverage and generating buzz. In today’s music landscape, media coverage plays a significant role in promoting an artist’s music and generating buzz. Music journalists, bloggers, influencers, and other media outlets are more likely to cover an artist’s music if it is of high quality, unique, and noteworthy. Media coverage can provide valuable exposure, increase an artist’s visibility, and attract new listeners to their music on streaming platforms.

Moreover, media coverage can lead to interviews, features, and reviews that further amplify an artist’s music and increase their chances of success on music streaming platforms. However, if an artist’s music is of low quality or lacks originality, it is less likely to attract media attention, resulting in limited exposure and hindered success on streaming platforms.

In addition to media coverage, quality music also has a better chance of getting placed on popular playlists on music streaming platforms. Playlists are an essential feature of music streaming platforms, and getting a song featured on a popular playlist can significantly impact an artist’s success. Curated playlists, algorithmic playlists, and user-generated playlists are influential in driving streams, discoverability, and listener engagement.

Playlist curators and algorithms typically prioritize high-quality music that is well-produced, well-performed, and resonates with listeners. Getting a song featured on a popular playlist can lead to increased streams, followers, and exposure, which can contribute to an artist’s success on music streaming platforms. However, playlist curators are selective about the music they feature, and low-quality music is less likely to make the cut, reducing an artist’s chances of playlist placements and success on streaming platforms.

Another crucial aspect of creating quality music is the potential for generating revenue on music streaming platforms. While the revenue generated from streaming services may not be as substantial as other income streams for artists, such as live shows and merchandise sales, it still plays a significant role in an artist’s overall revenue stream. High-quality music that resonates with listeners and attracts a significant number of streams can generate a substantial income from streaming royalties.

Moreover, streaming platforms also offer opportunities for artists to monetize their music through features such as fan subscriptions, direct artist payouts, and merchandise integration. These revenue streams can provide additional income for artists, and quality music is more likely to attract and retain paying listeners, leading to increased revenue generation and financial success on music streaming platforms.

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, focusing on creating quality music is also essential for an artist’s long-term career sustainability. The music industry is highly competitive and constantly evolving, and artists need to adapt and evolve with it to sustain a successful career. In an era where music streaming has become the dominant form of music consumption, it is crucial for artists to create music that resonates with listeners and stands the test of time.

High-quality music has a better chance of standing out in the oversaturated music streaming landscape, attracting new listeners, and retaining existing ones. It can create a strong and loyal fan base that continues to support an artist’s music, leading to long-term sustainability and success.

Moreover, creating quality music showcases an artist’s professionalism, dedication, and commitment to their craft. It reflects their artistic integrity and sets them apart from other artists who may prioritize quantity over quality. Artists who consistently create high-quality music are more likely to be taken seriously by industry professionals, including record labels, music supervisors, and other decision-makers in the music industry. This can open doors to more opportunities, collaborations, and partnerships that can further an artist’s career and success on music streaming platforms.

Although publishing high quality music is an important step, don’t let your current level impede your progress as a musician. Over time you will get better, as long as you keep at it.

2. Choose the Right Distributor

Choosing the right distributor is crucial for music streaming success. A distributor is responsible for getting your music on different platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Look for a distributor that has experience working with independent artists and provides good customer support.

There are several distribution companies available in the market, including Distrokid, CD Baby, TuneCore, and Amuse. Each of these companies has its advantages and disadvantages, so take the time to research and compare them before making a decision. You’ll also want to consider the pricing as well.

• Distribution to Streaming Platforms: Music distributors are responsible for getting an artist’s music onto various music streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more. The right distributor will have a wide network of partnerships with these platforms, ensuring that an artist’s music reaches a broad audience and is available on popular streaming platforms worldwide. This is essential for an artist’s success on music streaming platforms, as it increases their potential for exposure and engagement with listeners.
• Royalty Collection and Reporting: Music distributors handle the collection of the mechanical royalties from music streaming platforms on behalf of artists. Royalties are the income generated from streams on music streaming platforms, and they are an important source of revenue for artists. The right music distributor will have robust systems in place for accurately collecting and reporting royalties, ensuring that artists receive their fair share of earnings from their music on streaming platforms.
• Flexibility and Control: Different music distributors offer varying levels of flexibility and control to artists. Some distributors may offer exclusive distribution deals, while others may offer non-exclusive deals that allow artists to retain more control over their music and career. Choosing the right distributor that aligns with an artist’s goals, budget, and desired level of control is crucial. It allows artists to make informed decisions about how their music is distributed, promoted, and monetized on streaming platforms, and can impact their overall success.
• Additional Services and Features: Some music distributors offer additional services and features that can enhance an artist’s success on music streaming platforms. For example, some distributors may offer promotional tools, marketing support, or access to playlist pitching services. These additional services can provide artists with valuable resources and opportunities to increase their visibility, attract more streams, and gain an edge in the competitive streaming landscape. Choosing a distributor that offers relevant additional services and features can greatly benefit an artist’s streaming success.
• Reputation and Credibility: The reputation and credibility of a music distributor can also impact an artist’s success on music streaming platforms. Established and reputable distributors may have better relationships with music streaming platforms, leading to better opportunities for promotion, playlist placements, and exposure. They may also have a proven track record of successful distribution and royalty collection, which can give artists peace of mind and confidence in their choice of distributor.

3. Optimize Your Metadata

Metadata is the information associated with your music, including the title, artist name, album name, and release date. Optimizing your metadata can help your music appear in search results when people are looking for new music. Make sure to use relevant keywords in your metadata, and keep it consistent across all platforms.

Metadata is a vital component of music publishing, providing important information about a song that helps to ensure it is properly licensed, distributed, and monetized. Essentially, metadata is the DNA of a song because it provides a detailed profile of its creators, publishers, rights holders, and other important details.

The importance of metadata in music streaming (and music publishing overall) cannot be overstated. Without accurate metadata, it can be difficult for music publishers, labels, and other industry stakeholders to identify and license songs for use in various media (e.g. movies, TV shows, commercials, and video games). This can lead to missed opportunities for revenue, as well as potential legal issues if a song is used without proper permission or attribution.

4. Build a Strong Brand

Building a strong brand is essential for success on music streaming websites. Your brand includes your name, image, and style, and it should be consistent across all platforms. You should also have a strong social media presence, including accounts on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Those platforms allow you to connect with your fans on a personal level, share updates about your music, and interact with them in real-time. By responding to comments and messages, you can create a dialogue with your fans, which can help to strengthen your relationship with them.

5. Collaborate with Other Artists

Collaborating with other artists can help you reach a broader audience and gain new fans. Look for artists who have a similar style or audience and reach out to them to collaborate on a song or project. You can also look for remix opportunities to see what style of music/types of arrangements truly resonate with your audience.

6. Engage with Your Fans

Engagement is key to building a loyal fan base on music streaming websites. Take the time to interact with your fans by responding to comments, answering questions, and creating a sense of community around your music.

Use social media and email lists for music promotion and and engaging with your fans. Offer exclusive content, behind-the-scenes footage, and other perks to reward your most dedicated fans.

Engaging with your fans can also provide valuable insights into what your fans want and expect from your music. By listening to their feedback and analyzing their behavior, you can better understand what resonates with your audience and tailor your music and marketing strategy accordingly. This can help you to build a more loyal following and increase your chances of success in the long term.

Another way to engage with your fans is by performing live shows. Live shows provide a unique opportunity to connect with your fans in person, which can create a lasting impression and build a strong relationship. By performing at local venues and touring nationally, you can reach a wider audience and establish yourself as a respected artist in the industry.

Conclusion

Success in the music industry takes a lot of work. With dedication, hard work, and a little bit of luck, you can achieve success on these platforms and reach a wider audience than ever before.

Additional Reading

Do you publish and/or write music? Read our article about the fundamentals of music theory to learn more about the basics.

You can also read this post to learn where we got the name Breve from.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

10 Tax Tips for Musician

Introduction

Musicians, like any other professionals, are required to pay taxes on their income. While the thought of taxes can be intimidating, understanding the basics of musician taxes is crucial to avoid any legal and financial issues down the line. In this article, we’ll discuss into the fundamentals of taxes for musicians, including the types of income, deductions, and filing requirements.

Basics

Types of Income

Musicians earn income from various sources, including performances, merchandise sales, royalties, and music sales. It’s essential to categorize your income into two types: W-2 income and 1099 income.

W-2 Income

W-2 income is paid by an employer who withholds taxes on behalf of the employee. For example, if a musician works as an employee for a band or a music venue, they will receive a W-2 form from their employer. The W-2 form reports the total amount of income paid to the musician, as well as the amount of taxes withheld.

1099 Income

1099 income is paid by an employer or client who does not withhold taxes on behalf of the musician. This type of income includes income earned from self-employment, such as performances, merchandise sales, and royalties.

Musicians who receive 1099 income are considered independent contractors and are responsible for paying their own taxes.

Deductions

Musicians can take advantage of various deductions to reduce their taxable income. Here are some common deductions that you can claim:

• Musical instruments and equipment – You can deduct the cost of musical instruments, equipment, and other items necessary for their work. This deduction applies to both purchases and rentals.

• Travel expenses – You may be able to deduct expenses incurred while traveling for work, including transportation, lodging, and meals

• Home office expenses – If you work from home, you may be able to deduct a portion of your home expenses. The deductions include rent/mortgage payments, utilities, and internet costs

• Education expenses – You can deduct expenses related to education, such as music lessons, workshops, and classes

• Advertising and marketing expenses – Advertising and marketing expenses can be deducted. That includes website costs, business cards, and posters

• Professional fees – You can also professional fees, such as fees paid to agents, managers, and attorneys.

10 Tax Tips

1. Make sure you actually file your taxes

Ignoring your taxes would be a poor decision. You may be owed a refund from the IRS, which you must claim within three years. However, if you owe money, you’ll be charged a penalty every year (up to 25% per year).

2. Claim all of your income and expenses

When you start earning money from your music, you can claim your income & expenses as a business or claim your income as hobby. We recommend choosing either of those two options.

Tracking your income will be key. Find a tool like Mint or Quickbooks to track your income.

3. Make good partnership decisions

Treat your music partnership like a business. Even if you’re a solo artist, you will rely on some external person(s) to release your music. Whether your only partner is the music distributor that you use to send your music to streaming platforms or you formed a partnership with other people, you’ll want to make sure that you are make a mutually beneficial agreement.

Make sure that you cover all of your bases before signing on the dotted line (e.g. discussing how taxes are being handled, how assets are managed, and how royalties are distrubuted)

4. Report all cash payments (including Venmo and PayPal)

Although audits aren’t common (less than 3% of self-employed people are audited), no one is immune to the risk. If you were to get audited, you could be asked to show your performance calendar. Having regular gigs but little income would be hard to believe.

5. Be mindful of taking a loss

“Reinvesting” your income back into your business and taking a loss may seem like the best strategy every year, but it has its drawbacks. If you lose money more than 3 out of every 5 years, the IRS could ask you to confirm that you’re actually running a business, rather than investing in a hobby.

Remember that most businesses aren’t non-profits, i.e. they’re meant to make money, not lose it every year.
Plus, having a profitable business can help you in the future (especially if your applying for a mortgage or for business funding, for example).

6. Track Your Milage

Keeping track of miles that you drove throughout the year can help you get a nice deduction. Having an app like MileIQ help to create a paper trail and protect yourself in case of an audit.

7. Consider Capitalizing Your Assets

The IRS allows you a couple of options for how you can claim and deduct your expenses. You can either take the entire expense at once, or you can spread it out over several years.

Basically, if you are not profitable yet, you may want to capitalize the cost of your gear overtime.

8. Don’t Underestimate Your Payments

The US income tax system is a “pay-as-you-go” system. That means the taxes for your income, Social Security, and Medicare are due as you’re paid. If you have a W2 job, those taxes should be taken out by your employer.

If you are a contractor, you will have to pay taxes throughout the year (on a quarterly basis).

9. Track Your Income and Expenses

Keeping track of how much you earn and spend is important. Whether you want to ensure you’re paying accurate tax estimates or aiming to minimize your overburden, you will be glad to know exactly how much you’ve earned and spent.

10. Issue 1099s to contractors (if applicable)

You can deduct the freelancers that you hire (e.g. a graphic designer or a web developer). However, you will need to itemize all of the expenses on your return by category.

Note: These suggestions are influenced by an article published on Ari’s Take (link).

Conclusion

Understanding the basics of musician taxes is crucial for every musician. By categorizing their income, taking advantage of deductions, and meeting the filing requirements, musicians can avoid any legal and financial issues.

It’s important to keep accurate records of income and expenses, seek the advice of a tax professional, and stay up-to-date with any changes in tax laws. With proper planning and preparation, musicians can focus on their craft without worrying about taxes.

Additional Reading

Do you use orchestral strings instruments in your mixes? Read our article about the 10 of the top orchestral string VSTs. You can also learn the fundamentals of music publishing here.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

Music Royalties in 2023 (Summary)

All major streaming services pay royalties based on an artist’s share of overall streams across the platform. Although none of the platforms share their exact formula for their pay per stream, there are estimates available. Below are approximate figures reported by Ditto in 2020 for US-based streams:

Streaming Service	Royalty Rate
Spotify	$0.00437 per stream
Apple Music	$0.00783 per stream
Tidal	$0.01284 per stream
Amazon Music	$0.00402 per stream

In general, there are four major factors that are used to calculate the payout for each stream:

• The listener’s country and location
• Whether the listener has a paid subscription or free account
• The specific artist’s royalty rate (depending on their contract)
• The pricing & currency conversion between regions

While we may not be able to predict the exact payout from every stream, there are calculators that help provide estimation on how much you will earn from various streaming platforms. To get an estimate for your 2023 royalties, check out this calculator from Ditto Music.

Further Context

Music streaming services have become a dominant mode of music consumption in recent years, providing access to vast catalogs of music at the fingertips of millions of listeners worldwide. With the rise of streaming, the question of how much royalties music streaming services pay to music creators has become a topic of widespread discussion and debate in the music industry. In this article, we will explore the complex world of music streaming royalties, including how they are calculated, the challenges and criticisms surrounding streaming royalty rates, and the efforts being made to ensure fair compensation for music creators.

Music streaming services generate revenue through subscription fees paid by users or through advertising revenue from free-tier or ad-supported services. These services then pay royalties to music creators based on various factors, including the number of streams, the type of subscription or service, the territory, and the rates agreed upon in licensing agreements or determined by industry practices. However, the calculation of streaming royalties is often considered opaque and complex, with different services and territories having their own unique formulas and practices.

One of the key factors in determining streaming royalties is the “per-stream” rate, which refers to the amount paid to music creators for each individual stream of a song. Per-stream rates can vary widely depending on the streaming service, the subscription tier, and the geographic location. For example, premium subscription tiers, which generally offer higher sound quality and more features, tend to have higher per-stream rates compared to free-tier or ad-supported services. Additionally, per-stream rates can also vary depending on the popularity of the artist or the genre of music, with higher rates often paid for more popular or mainstream content.

However, determining the actual per-stream rate can be challenging, as streaming services often do not disclose their exact royalty rates publicly. This lack of transparency has led to criticism and concern among music creators, who argue that they do not have enough visibility into how their music is being valued and compensated on streaming platforms. In response, some music creators have called for greater transparency and standardized royalty rates across the industry to ensure fair compensation for their creative works.

Another factor in streaming royalty calculation is the revenue share model, which determines how the revenue generated from subscriptions or advertising is divided between the streaming service and the music creators. Revenue share models can vary depending on the streaming service, but typically involve a percentage split between the service and the music creators. For example, a streaming service may allocate 70% of its revenue to royalties, with the remaining 30% retained as operating costs and profit. However, the actual percentage allocated to royalties can vary and may be negotiated in licensing agreements or determined by industry practices.

Territory also plays a role in streaming royalty calculation, as royalty rates can vary depending on the country or region where the music is streamed. This is due to different licensing agreements, legal requirements, and economic factors in different territories. For example, streaming services may have different royalty rates for the United States compared to Europe or Asia, based on factors such as market size, consumer spending habits, and local regulations.

It’s important to note that streaming royalties are not the only source of revenue for music creators. In addition to streaming, music creators may also earn royalties from other sources, such as performance royalties, mechanical royalties, synchronization royalties, and print royalties, as discussed in the previous sections of this article. However, the rise of streaming has led to increased reliance on streaming royalties for many music creators, especially independent artists who may not have access to other revenue streams.

Despite the growing popularity of streaming, there have been widespread concerns and criticisms about the perceived low royalty rates paid to music creators.

Some music creators argue that the current royalty rates are not sufficient to sustain a viable income for artists, especially for those who are not household names or who do not have significant bargaining power in licensing negotiations. Critics argue that the disparity between the revenue generated by streaming services and the royalties paid to music creators is unfair and unsustainable, particularly considering the enormous profits generated by some of the major streaming platforms.

One of the main criticisms of streaming royalty rates is that they are often perceived to be too low, especially for independent or lesser-known artists. Many music creators argue that the per-stream rates and revenue share models offered by streaming services are inadequate to compensate them for their creative work, and that they struggle to earn a fair income from streaming royalties alone. This is especially true for artists who may not have a large fan base or who may not generate millions of streams, as the per-stream rates can be extremely low, sometimes amounting to just fractions of a cent per stream.

Some music creators also argue that the revenue share models used by streaming services are not transparent and may not be equitable. While streaming services typically allocate a percentage of their revenue to royalties, the actual percentage allocated can vary, and may not always be disclosed to music creators. This lack of transparency can make it difficult for music creators to understand how their music is being valued and compensated, and whether they are receiving a fair share of the revenue generated by streaming platforms.

Moreover, there have been concerns about the market dominance of a few major streaming platforms, which can result in an imbalance of bargaining power between these platforms and individual music creators. Some argue that major streaming platforms may have significant leverage in licensing negotiations, which can result in unfavorable royalty rates for music creators, particularly independent artists who may have limited negotiating power. This has led to calls for more equitable and standardized royalty rates across the industry, as well as greater transparency in the negotiation and determination of royalty rates.

In response to these concerns, there have been efforts to advocate for fairer royalty rates and greater transparency in the music streaming industry. For example, some music industry organizations, advocacy groups, and artists have called for increased transparency in the calculation of royalties, including the disclosure of per-stream rates and revenue share models used by streaming services. They argue that greater transparency would allow music creators to better understand how their music is being compensated and whether they are receiving a fair share of the revenue generated by streaming platforms.

There have also been efforts to standardize royalty rates across the industry. For example, some organizations have proposed the adoption of a “user-centric” or “follower-centric” royalty distribution model, where royalties would be paid based on the actual listening habits of individual users, rather than a pro-rata model where royalties are distributed based on overall market share or popularity. Proponents of a user-centric model argue that it would result in a more equitable distribution of royalties, particularly for niche or independent artists whose music may not generate millions of streams but may have a dedicated fan base.

In addition, there have been calls for increased regulation and government intervention to ensure fair compensation for music creators in the streaming era. Some countries have already taken steps to implement legislation or regulations aimed at addressing the issue of streaming royalties. For example, in 2020, the French government passed a law that requires streaming services to disclose their royalty rates and revenue share models to music creators, and to negotiate royalty rates in good faith. Other countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, are also considering or have proposed similar legislation to address the concerns of music creators regarding streaming royalties.

However, there are also challenges and complexities in implementing standardized royalty rates or increased regulation in the music streaming industry. Some argue that determining standardized royalty rates could be difficult, as different services, territories, and business models may require different approaches. For example, premium subscription tiers that offer higher sound quality and more features may require higher royalty rates compared to free-tier or ad-supported services. Moreover, major streaming platforms may have different operating costs and profit margins, which could impact the percentage of revenue allocated to royalties.

Another challenge is the potential impact of standardized royalty rates or increased regulation on the business models of streaming services. Some argue that imposing higher royalty rates could lead to increased subscription costs for consumers, which may affect the affordability and accessibility of streaming services, particularly for price-sensitive markets. This could potentially result in a decline in overall streaming revenue and impact the viability of the streaming business model.

Furthermore, there are also differing perspectives among music creators themselves on what constitutes fair royalty rates and how they should be determined. While some advocate for higher per-stream rates or a user-centric model, others argue that the current revenue share models and pro-rata distribution based on overall market share are fair and should not be changed. Finding a consensus among music creators and other stakeholders on what constitutes fair compensation for music in the streaming era can be challenging.

In addition, there are concerns about the potential unintended consequences of increased regulation or standardized royalty rates. For example, some worry that increased regulation may stifle innovation and competition in the music streaming industry, as it may limit the flexibility of streaming services to adapt their business models and pricing strategies. There are also concerns about the potential for increased administrative burdens and costs associated with implementing and enforcing regulations related to streaming royalties.

Despite the challenges, there is a growing awareness and recognition of the need for fair compensation for music creators in the streaming era. Many stakeholders, including music creators, streaming services, industry organizations, and policymakers, are actively engaging in discussions and negotiations to address the issue of streaming royalties. Solutions may involve a combination of increased transparency, standardized royalty rates, and regulatory interventions that balance the interests of music creators, streaming services, and consumers.

Conclusion

The issue of streaming royalties and fair compensation for music creators is complex and multifaceted. While streaming has revolutionized the way music is consumed and has generated significant revenue for the industry, concerns about the fairness and sustainability of current royalty rates persist.

Efforts are being made to advocate for increased transparency, standardized royalty rates, and regulatory interventions, but finding a balance among the interests of various stakeholders remains a challenge. As the music streaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be important for all parties to engage in constructive dialogue and work towards solutions that ensure fair compensation for music creators in the digital age.

Additional Reading

Note that your digital music distributor probably doesn’t collect your full royalties from streaming services. You’ll also want to register your music with Songtrust & SoundExchange to get more of the royalties that your streams create. Read our article to learn more about the difference between the two.

Do you use plugins like IzoTope and FabFilter? Read our article to see a comparison between the two.

The music distributor RouteNote and the site Musician Wave both have excellent articles that also discuss streaming royalties.

Interested in finding a solid midi controller for music production? Read our article about the 6 of the best midi controllers. Also, here are 9 of the best microphones for musicians and 9 great headphones for music production

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC

Introduction to PROs

A performing rights organization (PRO) is a collective management organization that represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers in the administration of their performing rights. Performing rights refer to the right to publicly perform musical compositions, such as in live performances, broadcasts, streaming, and other public uses.

PROs play a vital role in the music industry by monitoring, collecting, and distributing royalties on behalf of their members for the public performance of their musical works. They negotiate licenses with businesses and organizations that use music publicly, such as radio stations, TV networks, live music venues, restaurants, and streaming platforms, to ensure that their members are compensated for the use of their music.

PROs also track and collect royalties from international performances through reciprocal agreements with PROs in other countries. They use advanced technology and databases to identify and track performances of their members’ works, and they distribute royalties based on various factors, such as the frequency and popularity of performances.

In addition to royalty collection and distribution, PROs also provide valuable services to their members, including copyright registration, advocacy for fair compensation and copyright protection, educational resources, and support for disputes or legal issues related to public performance rights.

Some examples of well-known performing rights organizations include ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers), and SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada). Each PRO has its own membership criteria, fee structures, and distribution policies, and songwriters, composers, and publishers often choose to affiliate with one or more PROs to ensure that their music is properly represented and monetized.

ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC

Want to know which performing rights organization (PRO) to sign up for? Continue reading to learn which one will be the best choice for you.

PRO	Founding Year	Pricing	Eligibility
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)	1914	One-time, non-refundable $50 fee for each application submission. There are no annual dues/fees.	Open to all
Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI)	1939	Songwriter membership is free. Individual publishers’ application fee is $150, and publishing companies’ membership fee is $250.	Open to all
Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SECSAC)	1930	There is no fee to join SESAC	Invitation-only

Cost

ASCAP has the lower cost when compared to BMI. SESAC has no upfront fee, but it isn’t accessible for everyone

Pay

ASCAP and BMI openly share their royalties payment calendar; however, SESAC does not publicly disclose when they pay royalties.

ASCAP pays out between ~88% and 90% of the royalties that they collect [1],[2].

BMI also pays out approximately 88% of royalties.

Contract Length

ASCAP has a minimum, one year contact for songwriters, and BMI contracts are for two years.

Discounts

All three PROs offer discounts for other companies if you’re a member. For example, being a member of ASCAP allows you to get a discount for Doc on the Go, Bandzoogle, and on some travel expenses.

ASCAP vs BMI vs SESAC – Which one should you pick?

When it comes to choosing a PRO in the United States, there aren’t a whole lot of options. ASCAP, BMI, and SECSAC are the biggest ones and the latter is only accessible by invitation.

For most musicians in the US, that means you’ll be looking at ASCAP vs BMI. Practically speaking, you can pick either one because their isn’t much of a difference. They have nearly identical payout percentage and collect royalties from the same sources (e.g. radio stations, music venues, amusement parks, and hospitals).

According to an article on Ari’s Take, BMI pays more for sync royalties and ASCAP pays more for radio royalties, based on their experience. Take that with a grain of salt.

Common Misconceptions About PROs

There are many common misconceptions about performing rights organizations, including:

PROs are only for big-name artists

Many people believe that PROs are only for famous musicians, but this is not true. PROs collect royalties for all types of music creators, including songwriters, composers, and publishers, regardless of their level of fame or success.

PROs only collect royalties for live performances

While PROs do collect royalties for live performances, they also collect royalties for other uses of music, such as radio airplay, TV and film placements, and digital streaming. In fact, digital streaming has become one of the most important revenue streams for music creators, and PROs play a critical role in collecting and distributing these royalties.

PROs are monopolies

While it is true that PROs have a dominant position in the music licensing industry, they are not monopolies. In fact, many PROs around the world compete with each other for the right to represent music creators and collect royalties on their behalf. Moreover, in some countries, there are multiple PROs operating in the same market, which provides music creators with more choice and competition.

PROs take a percentage of all music revenue

PROs only collect royalties for specific uses of music, such as live performances, radio airplay, and streaming. They do not take a percentage of all music revenue generated by music creators. Instead, they deduct a small percentage from the royalties they collect on behalf of music creators as an administrative fee.

PROs only benefit established music creators

PROs provide benefits to all music creators, regardless of their level of success or experience. They help to ensure that music creators are fairly compensated for their work, and they provide valuable resources and support to help music creators build their careers and protect their rights.

Conclusion

Regardless of which PRO you choose, you’ll still need to use a digital distributor such as Distrokid or Landr to publish your music to streaming platforms. Read out article that compares different distributors (Distrokid vs Landr vs CdBaby vs RouteNote).

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

What is a Digital Music Distributor?

A digital music distributor is a service that acts as an intermediary between musicians or record labels and online platforms where music can be streamed, downloaded, or purchased. These online platforms may include popular streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and many others. Digital music distributors provide a bridge between the artist or label and these platforms, making it possible for artists to get their music out to a global audience without the need for a physical distribution network or a record label.

Digital music distributors (like DistroKid) offer a range of services that allow artists to upload their music to the platform, generate revenue from streaming and sales, and manage their music catalog. The distribution process typically involves uploading the music to the distributor’s platform, providing relevant metadata such as song titles, album art, and release dates, and selecting the platforms and territories where the music should be distributed. Once the music is uploaded and the release is scheduled, the distributor takes care of delivering the music to the designated platforms and managing the royalties and revenue generated from the music’s performance.

How Do They Work?

The process of using a digital music distributor typically involves several steps. Let’s take a closer look at the typical workflow of how a digital music distributor works:

Sign Up and Upload

Artists or record labels sign up for an account with a digital music distributor and provide the necessary information, such as contact details, tax information, and payment preferences. Once the account is set up, the artist or label can begin uploading their music to the distributor’s platform. This typically involves providing the audio files in a specified format, along with relevant metadata such as song titles, artist name, album art, and release dates.

Distribution and Platforms

After uploading the music and metadata, the artist or label selects the platforms and territories where they want their music to be distributed. Digital music distributors typically have agreements with various online platforms and streaming services, allowing them to distribute music to these platforms on behalf of the artist or label. The artist or label can choose from a list of supported platforms and territories, and the distributor takes care of delivering the music to these platforms.

Royalty and Revenue Management

Once the music is distributed, the digital music distributor tracks the performance of the music on the platforms and collects the royalties and revenue generated from the music’s performance. This typically includes revenue from streams, downloads, and other monetization methods. The distributor then manages the royalties and revenue, deducts any fees or commissions as per their pricing plan, and pays out the remaining earnings to the artist or label according to the agreed-upon terms.

Reporting and Analytics

Digital music distributors also provide reporting and analytics tools that allow artists and labels to track the performance of their music on the various platforms where it is distributed. This includes data on streams, downloads, revenue, and other key metrics that help artists understand how their music is performing and make informed decisions about their music distribution strategy.

Additional Services

In addition to the core distribution services, many digital music distributors offer additional services to help artists and labels promote their music and grow their fan base. These may include features such as playlist pitching, social media promotion, marketing tools, and promotional campaigns, which can help artists gain more visibility and increase their chances of success in the competitive digital music landscape.

Why Should Artists Use Music Distributor?

Digital music distribution has become essential for artists and record labels in today’s music industry for several reasons:

1. Global Reach: One of the biggest advantages of using a digital music distributor is the ability to reach a global audience. With digital distribution, artists can make their music available on popular streaming services and online platforms worldwide, without the need for physical distribution networks or record labels. This allows artists to expand their reach beyond their local markets and connect with fans from all around the world, potentially leading to increased exposure, fan engagement, and revenue opportunities.
2. Independence and Control: Digital music distribution empowers artists and record labels to retain control over their music and their careers. Artists can release their music on their own terms, without the need for a record label or a traditional distribution deal. This gives artists the freedom to choose their own release strategies, pricing, and marketing approaches, and retain ownership of their music and creative vision. Digital music distribution also allows artists to have a direct relationship with their fans and collect valuable data and insights on their audience, which can inform their future music releases and marketing efforts.
3. Cost-Effective: Digital music distribution can be a cost-effective way for artists to release their music and generate revenue. Many digital music distributors offer flexible pricing plans, allowing artists to choose the one that best fits their budget and needs. In most cases, artists can upload their music to the platform for a relatively low cost, and the distributor takes care of the distribution process, including delivering the music to various platforms and managing royalties and revenue. This eliminates the need for artists to invest in physical manufacturing, inventory, and distribution costs, making it accessible to artists of all sizes and budgets.
4. Revenue Generation: Digital music distribution provides artists with the opportunity to generate revenue from their music through various monetization methods, such as streaming, downloads, and other digital sales. Artists can earn royalties based on the performance of their music on the platforms where it is distributed, and digital music distributors typically provide transparent reporting and analytics tools that allow artists to track their earnings and make informed decisions about their music business. This revenue can be an important source of income for artists, especially independent artists who may not have other revenue streams, and can help support their music careers and fund future projects.
5. Flexibility and Adaptability: The music industry is constantly evolving, and digital music distribution offers artists the flexibility and adaptability to keep up with the changing landscape. Artists can release their music on their own schedule, adapt their release strategies based on the performance of their music, and easily make changes to their distribution plan as needed. This allows artists to be nimble and responsive to market trends, audience preferences, and their own creative direction, and make adjustments to their music release strategy in real-time.
6. Additional Services: Many digital music distributors offer additional services beyond core distribution, such as playlist pitching, social media promotion, marketing tools, and promotional campaigns, that can help artists promote their music and grow their fan base. These additional services can provide artists with valuable promotional opportunities, increase their visibility, and enhance their chances of success in the competitive music industry.

Now that you understand what a music distributor is, let’s highlight Distrokid. Then we’ll dive into a comparison between Distrokid and its competitors.

DistroKid vs Landr vs CD Baby vs RouteNote

What music distribution company should I use? You may be asking yourself that now. In this article, we’ll be highlighting four music distributors for you to consider. Distrokid, Landr, RouteNote, and CD Baby.

Overview

All of these distributors release music to the most popular streaming services (i.e. Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music). None of these distributors keep any of the rights to your releases. Each have different subscription models available. Below we’re going to discuss the pricing.

Pricing

Distrokid

• 1 artist = $19.99/yr; 0% commission
• 2 artists = $35.99/yr; 0% commission
• 5 artists = $79.99/yr; 0% commission
• 10 artists = $139.99/yr; 0% commission

Landr

• $89/yr plan: Unlimited releases; 0% commission
• $20/yr plan: single = $5 EP & Album = $19; 9% commission
• Free plan: single = $9 EP & Album = $29; 15% commission
• $15/single for copyrighted songs

CD Baby

• Basic plan: $9.95/single & $29/album; 9% commission
• Pro plan: $29.95/single & $69/album; 9% commission

RouteNote

• Free plan: $0/release; 15% commission
• Premium plan: $10/single & $20-$45/album; $10/year; 0% commission

Summary

Each of these four platforms have their own use cases.

RouteNote has a great free plan for those who are okay with the 15% service fee. Their premium plan could work for those who do not release a lot of albums per year, other the fee can add up quickly.

CD Baby is great for artists who don’t want to pay an out-of-pocket fee every month or year AND that don’t release a large amount of albums (since they charge per release). Two drawbacks to keep in mind are the 9% commission and the charge per UPC ($5/single) or $20/album)

Landr is great for those with multiple artists and/or for people looking for help with mastering their music. We also recommend it for people who make arrangements of copyrighted music. At the time of writing, their unlimited release plan’s pricing isn’t dependent on the number of artists (but this could change). They also have two other plans where they charge per-release and take a commission.

Distrokid is great for single artists because of their pricing model. However, if you have 7 or more artists/bands as part of your distribution plan, Landr’s pricing may be better for you.

Personal Experience with DistroKid and Landr

Full disclosure, we personally use DistroKid, Landr, and RouteNote. The customer service for Landr and RouteNote have been helpful. We haven’t had to reach out to anyone from DistroKid. Overall, we enjoy using Landr the most and recommend them because of their site design and cost. We started using RouteNote in 2017 and shifted to Landr and DistroKid in 2022 to keep more of our profits.

RouteNote tends to have more lax publishing requirements, however their track name requirement can be inconsistent.

Landr also has its issues, particularly with handling copyrighted music. At times, there were delays in securing the rights for the songs we arranged. They occasionally matched some songs to the incorrect artist. As always, it is important to keep an eye out on your metadata in platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

Distrokid has been the fastest to approve albums and singles. Sometimes we have had to wait a few days, but at least half of our releases were approved within an hour (if not a few minutes). The biggest con for Distrokid is its website design. It could definitely use a makeover.

Conclusion

In today’s digital music landscape, a digital music distributor is an essential tool for artists and record labels to release their music and reach a global audience. It provides artists with the opportunity to distribute their music to popular streaming services and online platforms worldwide, retain control over their music and creative vision, generate revenue from their music, and access additional services to promote their music and grow their fan base. Digital music distribution has democratized the music industry, allowing artists of all sizes and budgets to release their music independently and on their own terms.

With its cost-effective, flexible, and adaptable nature, digital music distribution has become a vital component of an artist’s music career strategy, enabling them to thrive in the competitive digital music landscape. As the music industry continues to evolve, digital music distribution offers artists the opportunity to connect with their fans, generate revenue, and build a sustainable music career on their own terms. Whether you are an independent artist or a record label, partnering with a digital music distributor can provide you with the tools and resources you need to succeed in today’s dynamic music industry.

Additional Reading

Now that you’ve learn more about Distrokid, take some time to read our other articles. Want to know more about music business? Check out our article about Songtrust and SoundExchange to learn why you should sign up for both.

Here are also a few tips on how to run a successful record label.

In addition to publishing articles like these, Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

SoundExchange vs SongTrust

SoundExchange vs Songtrust? This is a common question for those in the music business (whether new or experienced). In this article, we’ll be highlighting the differences between the two and why we think both are a good fit for musicians with published work.

Tl;dr: Register for both. SoundExchange collects royalties from services like iHeartRadio, whereas Songtrust collects your share of the composition rights from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

SoundExchange administers the statutory license, which allows services to stream music while paying a fixed rate for each play. They collect and distribute royalties for the featured artist and the sound recording copyright owner when content is played on a non-interactive digital source (i.e. satellite radio providers, webcasters and digital cable music providers).

Pricing

Registering with SoundExchange is free.

They do take a percentage of royalties as an administrative rate. Unfortunately, they are not as transparent about what the fee is. Here is an article where they describe the benefits to signing up. They claim to offer “one of the lowest administrative rates in the music industry”, but don’t mention what that rate is. Their FAQ section includes the question “Is There An Administrative Fee?”, and the answer also asserts that their admin fee is low.

More transparency of the cost associated with using SoundExchange would be appreciated, however we still recommend registering with them because they’ll be collecting royalties that you otherwise would not receive at all.

Additional Terms

SoundExchange does not take any ownership of your rights. They are just the administrator the statutory license, which means they collect and distribute royalties for the featured artist and the sound recording copyright owner when content is played on a non-interactive digital source.

Check out their FAQ for more information about SoundExchange

Songtrust

Songtrust collects your share as the songwriter of a streamed or digitally purchased song. Streaming services pay the sound recording licensing fee to artists to your distributor, e.g. Distrokid or Landr. They also pay mechanical licenses, but those are usually not collected by your distributor.

In order to collect your portion of the publisher’s share (whether it is 1%, 100%, or somewhere in the middle), you must sign up with Songtrust, or one of its few competitors.

Songtrust has a great resource here that describes how they differ from Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASACP and BMI. We recommend taking a look at that link to see the bigger picture of how Songtrust describes their role in the music industry.

Pricing

Songtrust charges a one-time, $100 fee per songwriter. There is no annual or per-release fee. There is also no limit to the number of songs. This fee allows them to start their up-front catalog management work. Click here to learn more about the workflow of catalog management.

You keep 85% of all royalties. They charge a 15% administration fee for all royalty types, from all global sources.

Additional Terms

You can cancel your Songtrust account at anytime, but if you do, they’ll continue collecting on any songs you delivered to them for 12 month.

Songtrust doesn’t take any copyright ownership of your songs. This means you keep 100% of your share.

Further Reading

After reviewing our list of some of the best brass VSTs currently on the market, feel free to check out our other articles.

Do you also use orchestral strings or woodwinds instruments in your mixes? Read our article about the 10 Best Orchestral VSTs and 10 of the top Woodwind VSTs.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.

I hope you enjoyed this overview about SoundExchange and Songtrust. Register your music today with both sites to start earning your full royalties!

3 Fundamental Music Business Tips

My music business began in 2017 with a laptop and Audacity. I used my first music distributor, Routenote.com, to release Solfeggio Frequencies. Since then, a lot has changed and I’ve learned a lot about the music business.

I’ve started publishing music with more instruments (i.e. Breve Orchestra and Breve Music Ensemble)

Here are 3 music business tips that can help you grow your music business:

1. Sign up for a Performing Rights Organization (PRO) like ASCAP or BMI. digital, terrestrial (i.e. AM and FM radio) and live royalties.
2. Distribute your music like Distrokid and Landr collect your master recording rights.
3. Make an account with SongTrust AND SoundExchange. SongTrust allows you to capture all your mechanical royalties from streaming platforms. SoundExchange collects royalties from radio programs.

Common Revenue Streams in Music Business

The music industry has undergone significant changes. With the rise of online streaming services, social media platforms, and other digital distribution channels, musicians have more revenue streams available to them than ever before. Let’s take a closer look at some of the modern revenue streams for musicians.

1. Mechanical streaming royalties

With the growth of music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, streaming royalties have become a crucial revenue stream for musicians. These platforms pay artists based on the number of streams their music receives. While the amount paid per stream may seem small, with the right marketing and promotion, streaming royalties can add up quickly. Your music distributor collects your royalty from the audio copyright, but you need to register with SongTrust to secure your composition royalty (when a song is streamed).

2. Merchandise

Merchandise sales have long been a source of revenue for musicians. From t-shirts to vinyl records, merchandise can help artists connect with fans while also providing a steady stream of income. In recent years, digital merchandise has also become popular, with artists selling items like virtual concert tickets, exclusive content, and limited edition digital downloads.

3. Sync licensing

Sync licensing involves placing music in TV shows, movies, and commercials. This is a lucrative revenue stream for musicians as it provides exposure to new audiences and pays well. With the growth of online streaming services and content creation, sync licensing opportunities have increased.

4. YouTube revenue

YouTube has become a platform for artists to promote their music and connect with fans. YouTube revenue comes from ad revenue on videos, as well as revenue from sponsored content and partnerships. By building a strong presence on YouTube, musicians can earn a significant amount of money.

5. Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has become a popular way for musicians to fund their projects and connect with fans. Platforms like Kickstarter and Patreon allow artists to raise money for recording projects, tours, and other expenses. By offering exclusive perks to their supporters, musicians can build a loyal fanbase and secure funding for their creative endeavors.

6. Live performance

Live performances have always been an essential part of a musician’s revenue stream. In recent years, the rise of virtual concerts has provided new opportunities for musicians to perform and earn money. With the ability to reach a global audience, virtual concerts can be a lucrative revenue stream for musicians.

The music industry has changed significantly in recent years, providing musicians with a range of modern revenue streams. From streaming royalties to merchandise sales, sync licensing to YouTube revenue, crowdfunding to live performances, musicians have more options than ever before to monetize their talent and connect with fans. By embracing these revenue streams and adapting to the changing music industry landscape, musicians can achieve financial success while also pursuing their creative passions.

Ethics in Music Business

Ethics play a crucial role in any business, including the music industry. In fact, ethical conduct is fundamental to the sustainability and success of the music business. The music industry involves a complex web of relationships, transactions, and interactions that require honesty, integrity, and respect. Ethical conduct helps to build trust, strengthen relationships, and enhance the reputation of music industry professionals.

Here are some of the key ways in which ethics are essential to the music business:

Fair Treatment of Artists and Music Industry Professionals

Ethics in the music industry demand that artists and music industry professionals are treated fairly and equitably. This includes ensuring that artists are compensated fairly for their work and that their rights are respected. Music industry professionals should also be paid fairly for their services and provided with a safe and respectful working environment. Ethical conduct in this area can help to build trust and foster long-term relationships between artists and music industry professionals.

Transparency and Honesty in Business Practices

Ethical business practices require transparency and honesty in all transactions and interactions. This means being clear and upfront about fees, contracts, and other terms and conditions. Music industry professionals should also be open and honest in their communication with clients and colleagues. This helps to build trust and can prevent misunderstandings or conflicts down the line.

Respect for Intellectual Property Rights

The music industry is built on intellectual property, including copyrights and trademarks. Ethical conduct in the music industry requires respect for intellectual property rights. This includes obtaining permission to use copyrighted material and giving credit where credit is due. Music industry professionals who engage in ethical conduct in this area can help to promote creativity and innovation, while also protecting the rights of artists and other creators.

Support for Diversity and Inclusion

The music industry is diverse, with artists and industry professionals from all backgrounds and cultures. Ethical conduct in the music industry requires support for diversity and inclusion. This means providing opportunities for artists and industry professionals from all backgrounds, as well as promoting respect and understanding across cultural divides. By embracing diversity and promoting inclusion, the music industry can benefit from a wide range of perspectives and ideas.

Commitment to Social Responsibility

Ethical conduct in the music business also requires a commitment to social responsibility. This means supporting causes and initiatives that benefit society as a whole. For example, many music industry professionals use their platforms to raise awareness about important issues, such as climate change, social justice, and human rights. By using their influence for good, music industry professionals can make a positive impact on the world around them.

Ethics are essential to the success and sustainability of the music industry. By promoting fair treatment, transparency, respect for intellectual property rights, diversity and inclusion, and social responsibility, music industry professionals can build trust, strengthen relationships, and enhance their reputation. By embracing ethical conduct, the music industry can continue to thrive and evolve in a rapidly changing world.

Artist Management

Artist management is a crucial aspect of the music business, helping artists navigate the complex world of music business, from recording and releasing music to touring and marketing. The role of an artist manager is to act as a liaison between the artist and the music industry, providing support, guidance, and representation to help artists achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Here are some key aspects of artist management in music business:

Career development

An artist manager is responsible for helping their artist develop their career, setting goals and creating a plan to achieve them. This includes developing a strong brand, identifying the artist’s target audience, and creating a marketing and promotional strategy.

Contract negotiation

Artist managers are skilled negotiators and are responsible for negotiating contracts with record labels, publishers, booking agents, and other industry professionals on behalf of the artist. They ensure that the artist gets the best deal possible, including fair compensation and favorable terms.

Financial management

An artist manager is responsible for managing the artist’s finances, including budgeting for recording sessions, tours, and other expenses. They also ensure that the artist is receiving fair compensation for their work and that they are paid on time.

Touring and live performance

An artist manager is responsible for booking gigs and tours, arranging transportation and accommodations, and ensuring that the artist has everything they need to perform at their best. They also work to build relationships with promoters, venue owners, and other industry professionals to help the artist expand their fan base and reach new audiences.

Creative development

An artist manager is often involved in the creative process, working closely with the artist to help them develop their sound and style. They may provide feedback on new music, help with songwriting and production, and provide guidance on branding and visual aesthetics.

Overall, artist management plays a crucial role in the success of musicians in the music industry. By providing support, guidance, and representation, artist managers help artists navigate the complexities of the music business and achieve their goals. A strong artist-manager relationship is built on trust, communication, and shared vision, and can make all the difference in an artist’s career.

Conclusion

Marketing your music requires a combination of online and offline strategies. Building a strong online presence, collaborating with other musicians and brands, releasing your music on streaming platforms, utilizing video content, playing live shows, and using paid advertising are all essential aspects of marketing your music successfully. Remember to stay consistent, engage with your fans, and always be open to new opportunities.

Additional Reading

After reviewing these music business tips, feel free to check out our other articles.

Do you also use orchestral strings or woodwinds instruments in your mixes? Read our article about the 10 Best Orchestral VSTs and 10 of the top Woodwind VSTs.

Also, check out this article comparing compressors and limiters. You can also learn about gain staging.

Breve Music Studios publishes music to Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and more. Follow our pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

Listen to our ensembles: Breve Orchestra, Breve Music Ensemble, Breve Low Brass Ensemble, Breve Woodwind Ensemble, and Jermaine Harris on Spotify.