As a singer, one of the best ways to get your music across to millions of people around the world is to share your songs on music streaming platforms. Streaming your music equally comes with the added value of allowing you to earn from your music. This article will focus on how to stream your music and earn money as a musician. It will also give a step by step guide on how to distribute your music.
Truth is, there are a handful of platforms where you can stream your music and earn. Music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal are the most popular with millions of users listening to music every day. By publishing your music on these platforms, you not only gain more visibility, but also have the opportunity to earn royalties from your music.
A step-by-step guide on how to distribute your music on a streaming platform:
1. Create and save your music
Before you distribute your music to a streaming platform, you need to make sure that your music is authentic and that you have rights to the music. To ensure that your work is properly rewarded, you can register your music with a professional performance organization (PRO) such as American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) or BMI. In Nigeria, you can register with the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN).
2. Choosing a Music Publisher
A music publisher is a company that helps artists distribute their music to streaming platforms. Some popular music programs include DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby. Each seller has their own prices and services, so it’s important to research each one to find the one that best suits your needs.
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3. Upload your music
When you choose a music, you can upload your music to their platform. This usually includes collecting information about your music such as the title, artist name, and album art.
You will also need to choose the streaming platform where you want your music to be played.
4. Pending Review
When music is submitted, it goes through a review process to ensure it meets the standards of each streaming platform. This takes from a few days to weeks.
5. Start Earning Copyright
Once your music is approved, it will be made available on your chosen streaming platform. You will be rewarded every time someone listens to your music on these platforms.
Most Popular Music Streaming Platforms
Now that you know how to distribute music on streaming platforms, let’s take a look at some of the most popular platforms you can stream your music and earn money. We will look at the pros and cons of each.
1. Spotify
Spotify is the world’s largest music streaming platform with over 356 million monthly users. The platform has both free and paid versions that allow users to listen to ad-free music and download music for offline listening. One of the best benefits of streaming music on Spotify is its ability to reach millions of listeners. But the platform also has a reputation for paying artists low wages.
2. Apple Music
Apple Music is the second largest music streaming platform in the world with over 60 million subscribers. The platform offers free trials and paid subscriptions with features like streaming music, offline listening, and access to exclusive content. One of the advantages of streaming music on Apple Music is its ability to reach Apple’s large customer base. However, it is also known that the platform is difficult to use for some users.
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3. Tidal
Tidal is a music streaming platform focused on quality sound with a library of over 70 million songs.
The platform offers free trials and paid subscriptions with features like ad-free music and access to exclusive content. One of the benefits of streaming your music on Tidal is the ability to reach users looking for quality sound. However, the platform has fewer users than Spotify and Apple Music, which may limit your exposure.
In a nutshell, publishing your music on streaming platforms is a great way to increase visibility and profit from your music. By choosing a music publisher and platform, you can ensure your music reaches the right audience and you get paid well for your work.
I am Music Estate’s Music Director
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