Meta pays $0.00000587 per stream, Facebook pays $0.0000695. See real rates for 100+ countries and learn why Meta is worth more for discovery than royalties.
Most independent artists either spend nothing on marketing and wonder why nobody finds them, or spend $500 on playlist promotion with zero ROI. Here is how to build a marketing budget that actually generates measurable growth at every income level.
TikTok pays $0.00000305 per stream on average, roughly 906 times less than Spotify. See real rates for 100+ countries and learn what TikTok is actually worth to artists.
YouTube pays an average per stream from ads and a higher rate on YouTube Music. See real rates for 80+ countries and learn how CPM drives your earnings.
Instagram Reels is one of the most effective free tools independent artists have for reaching new listeners. This guide covers what actually works in 2026, how the algorithm ranks music Reels, and how to build a repeatable content system around your releases.
TuneCore is a digital music distributor owned by Believe, offering unlimited distribution to 150+ stores starting at $24.99/year with 100% streaming royalty retention. Known for strong publishing administration and granular analytics. Based in the United States, founded in 2005. Keeps 20% of social platform revenue (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook).
dig dis! is a German music distributor founded in 2006, focused on labels rather than individual artists. Offers free registration with three different plans available as monthly or yearly subscriptions. Has direct contracts with iTunes, Apple Music, Beatport, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, Amazon, Traxsource, Deezer, Pandora, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and more. Provides the free digdis.app for label management with tools for release creation, promotion campaigns, sales analytics, financial statements, real-time chart tracking, revenue splits, and smart links. ISRC codes cost 0.75 EUR each, EAN/UPC codes cost 1.00 EUR each. Gives 365 days of full control. WARNING: charges a 30 EUR fee per release if you leave their service. Best for labels that want a dedicated label-focused distributor with integrated management tools.
e-Muzyka is the leading music distributor on the Polish market, based in Warsaw, Poland, founded in 2005. Part of Empik Group with 20 employees. Represents 650+ Polish independent labels and works with all major labels (Universal, Sony, Warner). Distributes to Spotify, YouTube, Tidal, iTunes, TikTok, Facebook, and more. Certified YouTube partner and biggest multi-channel network in Poland with 250+ million monthly views. Offers physical distribution (CDs, DVDs, books), mobile value-added services, marketing campaigns, and Empik store promotional services. Launched emuze.me self-service platform with 85% revenue share, 50+ services, no long-term contracts, and no upfront fees. Best for Polish artists and labels, and anyone targeting the Polish market.
