Music distribution is the service that takes your finished song and delivers it to streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and JioSaavn so people can listen to it and you get paid. As an independent artist in India, you can't upload directly to Spotify yourself — you go through a distributor, which acts as the bridge between your audio file and the 150+ platforms where music lives today.
This guide explains exactly how that works, what it costs in rupees, which platforms matter, and how to pick the right distributor — without the jargon.
What "music distribution" actually means
Think of a distributor as a delivery company for your music. You hand it one file — your mastered track — plus some details (song name, artist name, cover art). The distributor copies that to every store you choose, makes sure each one has the right information, and collects the money those platforms pay when people stream or buy your song. Without a distributor, your song simply can't appear on Spotify or Apple Music — these platforms don't accept uploads from individual artists, only from approved distribution partners.
How distribution works, step by step
- You finish and master your track (a high-quality WAV file).
- You upload it to your distributor with metadata — title, artist, genre, language, release date.
- You add cover art (3000×3000px square) and assign credits and royalty splits.
- You choose your platforms — all 150+, or just the ones you care about.
- The distributor delivers your song a few days before release.
- Your song goes live everywhere on the release date.
- Listeners stream it; each platform tracks every play.
- Platforms pay the distributor (1–3 months later — streaming money is always delayed).
- The distributor pays you, minus its fee or commission.
Streaming income is slow and small per play. You're paid months later, and a single stream is worth a fraction of a rupee. Volume and patience are how it adds up.
Where your music goes — the platforms that matter in India
The global giants: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube (Content ID). The India-first platforms: JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk Music, and Hungama. The rest of the world: Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Anghami, Boomplay, NetEase/Tencent, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Shazam.
For most Indian independent artists, the bulk of streams come from Spotify, JioSaavn, YouTube Music, and Apple Music — but reaching all 150+ means you never miss a listener.
What it costs in India — and why INR vs USD matters
There are two pricing models: pay per release (a fee per single or album) and subscription (a flat yearly fee for unlimited releases). The hidden cost is currency: DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby all bill in US dollars, which means a 2–3.5% foreign transaction fee on Indian cards plus exchange-rate drift at renewal. India-based distributors that bill in rupees avoid both.
| Distributor | Model | Entry cost | Currency | Artist keeps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grootin | Free tier, subscription, or one-time | Free, or ₹1,299/yr unlimited | INR (₹) | 80–95% |
| DistroKid | Subscription | $24.99/yr (≈₹2,125) | USD | 100% |
| TuneCore | Per release / sub | $9.99/yr single (≈₹850) | USD | 100% of distribution |
| CD Baby | One-time | $9.99 single (≈₹850) | USD | 91% (9% commission) |
We go deep on this in our full DistroKid vs Grootin vs TuneCore vs CD Baby comparison.
How royalties reach you
When someone streams your song, the platform calculates a tiny payment. In India, Spotify pays roughly $0.0008 per stream (about ₹0.07) — lower than the global $0.003–$0.005 average, because most Indian listeners use the free, ad-supported tier. Your distributor collects these micro-payments from every platform and pays you, minus its cut — which is why a 9%-for-life commission versus keeping 80–100% changes your lifetime earnings on a song that streams for years.
How to choose a distributor — an 8-question checklist
- Does it bill in rupees or dollars?
- How much of my royalties do I keep?
- Does my music stay up if I stop paying?
- How many platforms does it reach, and are the India-first ones included?
- What support can I actually reach — email, or something faster like WhatsApp?
- Does it handle royalty splits for collaborators?
- Can I move my catalog in and out easily?
- Are there hidden add-on fees?
Common mistakes new Indian artists make
Releasing the same day you upload (give yourself 1–2 weeks — see our step-by-step Spotify release guide); ignoring metadata; forgetting an ISRC code (your distributor usually provides it free); and choosing on headline USD price alone instead of the real rupee cost after forex.
Ready to release?
A distributor delivers your song everywhere and collects your money. Choose one that bills in your currency, keeps your music live, and lets you keep most of your royalties. When you're ready, follow our guide to releasing on Spotify from India, or see Grootin's plans.