Bandcamp – A direct marketplace for Artists & Labels (High control with Adequate Return for artists)
Bandcamp is a go-to platform for artists who want to reach the desired listeners directly. It provides tools for independent singers to promote themselves and get the maximum percentage of the profit.
As an artist, you can create a complete store to advertise your songs and digital versions and connect with your customers. Unlike most options, Bandcamp treats every artist and creator equally.
Anyone can register and access the songs for free. Once the fans like the song, they pay the song publisher directly after a 10% to 15% deduction. Artists have full control over whether to let fans download or stream the song without a charge and receive their email addresses to increase their reach.
Pros:
- Higher earnings for artists
- Free to use
- Artists can sell merch
- Artists can set the price
- Create a store in a custom domain
Cons:
- Limited transaction options
- Cannot distribute songs
Price:
- Free to register
- Pro plan for artists at $10/month
Download:
Mixcloud – Upload small to long audio content with copyright protection
Mixcloud is an excellent platform for DJs, radio show hosts, and podcast creators who want to share long-form audio without copyright issues. Unlike traditional services, it provides a user-friendly spot for multiple audio contents, which makes it a go-to platform for DJs, radio hosts, and podcasters.
One of Mixcloud’s best perks is Mixcloud Select. It is a subscription-based model that lets artists or audio creators earn revenue by offering content to their subscribers. This allows fans to support their creators if they get what they want.
Listeners are also on their radar for getting the desired services, such as without a geo-restriction, users can access DJ sets to radio shows and podcasts. It is a haven for music amateurs who want long-form audio experiences.
Pros:
- You can upload a variety of audio contents
- Good audio quality for streaming,
- Has online community
- Global audience for creators and listeners
Cons:
- Offline listening for free isn’t available
- Fewer social engagement options
Price:
- Pro for Creators: $3.09/ month (annually) or $5/ month (monthly)
- Premium for listeners: $2.99/ month
Download:
Apple Music – Premium music for Apple devices
Apple Music is a subscription-based music streaming service that offers users many songs, curated playlists, content, and radio stations. As part of the Apple Ecosystem, this platform works seamlessly on Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
Listeners can get global reach with content from various regions, genres, and languages. Further, Apple Music also rewards Artists and Songwriters for the value they deliver. Through their loyalty program, they pay the same headline price to all labels, which is good news for creators who want to distribute the songs as they want. Depending upon the subscription plan and the region, artists receive $0.01 per play count.
Pros:
- A Range of Music Library
- High-Quality Sound
- Integrates smoothly with Apple Devices
- Offline Listening
Cons:
- There is no option for free
- Expensive plans for listeners
Price:
- Free for artists
- For Listeners
- $5.99/ month (Student)
- $10.99/ month (Individual)
- $16.99/ month (Family)
Download:
TIDAL – Highest Royalty for Artists in the industry
TIDAL is a top-notch music streaming platform that delivers premium sound quality and content for many artists. Along with audio, this platform provides a rich music experience with millions of tracks and videos. It is a go-to place for users looking for audio and visual entertainment in one spot.
TIDAL is known to attract listeners who want the best sound clarity; in other words, quality audio is its commitment. Another thing that differentiates TIDAL from the rest is that it is available on various devices, from smartphones to home audio systems. Hence, users can use it seamlessly across multiple platforms.
TIDAL offers fairer payouts for music lovers who want to support their artists than other services.
Pros:
- Master quality audio
- Early access to some content
- Pay higher royalties to artists
- It provides music videos, artist interviews, along with audio
- Supports many platforms
Cons:
- Smaller music library
- Limited social features
Price:
- For Listeners
- $5.49/ month (Student)
- $10.99/ month (Individual)
- $16.99/ month (Family)
- Add-on for student and individual plans at $9/ month
Download:
HearThis – User-friendly interface with high customization
It is an audio-sharing platform for musicians, DJs, podcasters, and songwriters to upload and share with the global audience. Despite being an alternative to many streaming services, HearThis provides an easy-to-use interface that lets users upload, stream, and promote their tracks in various genres.
This platform is prevalent among DJs and electronic music creators because it gives them a one-stop solution. It offers artists customizable options to make playlists and share tracks directly with followers. Artists can also interact with their audience through likes, reposts, and comments.
Pros:
- Free and paid plans
- DJ-Friendly platform
- Creators can embed their tracks on external platforms
- There is no upload limit for free users
Cons:
- Smaller audience
- Limited monetization options for creators
Price:
- Premium plan: €24.99 / year for artists
Download:
Spotify
Spotify is the most popular and used music streaming service in the world. It offers millions of tracks, albums, and podcasts from many artists. It legally offers a vast library of content, with free, ad-supported, and premium subscriptions. One of the best perks of this service is that users can share their playlists with any other Spotify user and enjoy their favorite music with each other.
Spotify has expanded beyond music, becoming dominant in the market. Users now access podcasts and shows, making this platform a hub for audio and cultural trends.
Pros:
- Syncing on multiple devices
- Many social features
- Collaborative Playlists to let friends add and edit songs together
- Unique playlist and recommendations to play songs
Cons:
- Ad-supported free version
- Low royalty payments to artists
Price:
- For Listeners
- $5.99/ month (Student)
- $11.99/ month (Individual)
- $19.99/ month (Family)
- $16.99/ month (Duo)
Download:
