How to Sell your Music on the Internet

Short answer: Pick a music distributor like DistroKid, TuneCore or CD Baby to get your tracks onto Spotify, Apple Music and the other stores, sell directly to fans on Bandcamp for the best margins, and claim your Spotify for Artists profile to control your presence and see your data.

I have been a musician since childhood, and getting music heard has never been easier than it is today. The hard part is no longer distribution, it is choosing the right tools and understanding how the money actually flows. Below is the workflow I would use to release a track this week, with real platforms and honest notes on cost and royalties.

How does selling music online actually work now?

You do not upload directly to Spotify or Apple Music yourself. Instead you use a distributor that pushes your tracks to every major store and streaming service at once, then collects and pays you the royalties. Alongside that, you can sell straight to fans on a marketplace like Bandcamp where you keep far more per sale. Most artists do both.

Which distributor should I choose?

The big three cover almost everyone's needs. Your choice comes down to how the fees are structured.

• DistroKid charges a low flat annual fee, lets you upload unlimited songs, and takes no cut of your royalties. It is my default for anyone releasing often.
• TuneCore also keeps your royalties but historically charged per release, so it suits people who release rarely and want to keep 100% of streaming income.
• CD Baby uses a one-time fee per release rather than an annual subscription, which appeals to artists who dislike recurring charges.

Where do I sell directly to fans?

For direct sales, nothing beats Bandcamp. You set your own price, fans can choose to pay more than the asking amount, and you keep a large majority of each sale after a modest platform share and payment fees. It is the best margin per fan of anything on this list, and it is where I send my most engaged listeners to buy directly.

What is Spotify for Artists and do I need it?

Yes, claim it. Spotify for Artists is free and does not distribute music, your distributor does that. What it gives you is control of your artist profile, pitch tools to submit tracks to editorial playlists, and detailed listener stats. Apple has an equivalent in Apple Music for Artists. Claiming both is a no-brainer once your first release is live.

How do royalties actually work?

Streaming pays a small fraction of a cent per play, so streaming income is a volume game. Downloads and physical or direct sales pay much more per unit but happen far less often. There are also publishing royalties, the songwriter's share, which are separate from the recording royalties your distributor collects. A publishing administrator or your distributor's publishing add-on can collect those for you so you are not leaving money on the table.

Distributor comparison at a glance

Service	Fee model	Takes a royalty cut?	Best for
DistroKid	Low annual subscription, unlimited uploads	No	Frequent releasers
TuneCore	Per-release fee	No	Occasional releasers wanting 100% royalties
CD Baby	One-time fee per release	Small cut on sales historically	Those who dislike subscriptions
Bandcamp	No upfront, share per sale	Small platform share	Direct-to-fan sales, best margins
Spotify for Artists	Free	Not a distributor	Profile control and analytics

Fees and terms change, so check each site's current pricing page before you commit.

How do I actually get started this week?

1. Finish a properly mastered track and prepare square cover art at 3000 by 3000 pixels.
2. Sign up with one distributor, upload the track, and set a release date at least three to four weeks out.
3. The day it goes live, claim your Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists profiles.
4. Set up a Bandcamp page and send your direct fans there to buy.
5. Register with a publishing administrator so you also collect your songwriter royalties.

A tip most guides skip: set your release date weeks ahead

The single most valuable thing I learned is to schedule the release three to four weeks in advance instead of hitting publish immediately. That lead time is the only window in which you can pitch the track to Spotify's editorial playlists through Spotify for Artists. Miss it and you forfeit your best shot at a playlist placement, which is where meaningful streaming numbers actually come from.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put my music on Spotify and Apple Music myself for free?

Not directly. You go through a distributor such as DistroKid, TuneCore or CD Baby, which delivers your tracks to the stores. Some charge an annual or per-release fee, and Bandcamp lets you sell directly with no upfront cost.

Which distributor keeps the most of my money?

DistroKid and TuneCore let you keep your streaming royalties in full and only charge a fee, while for direct sales Bandcamp gives you the largest share per sale. The best choice depends on how often you release.

What is the difference between recording and publishing royalties?

Recording royalties are paid for the specific recording and collected by your distributor. Publishing royalties are the songwriter's share for the composition itself and are collected separately through a publishing administrator.

Do I need Spotify for Artists if I already use a distributor?

Yes. It is free and separate from distribution. It lets you control your profile, pitch to editorial playlists before release, and see detailed listener statistics.