Bandcamp, SoundCloud and music distribution platforms: where to put your music

For an independent musician, digital distribution is the foundation of presence. But not all platforms serve the same purpose: Bandcamp is for selling directly to fans, Spotify is for mass discovery, SoundCloud is for demos and feedback, and aggregation platforms (DistroKid, Amuse) are the bridge between your music and the streaming services. Understanding the difference prevents a lot of mistakes.

Bandcamp: the best option for direct sales

Bandcamp is the reference platform for independent musicians who want to sell directly to their fans. The business model is honest: Bandcamp takes 15% of digital sales (and 10% once you exceed $5,000 in annual sales), and you keep 85%. For CDs, vinyl, and merchandise, the percentage is similar.

For musicians who value sovereignty and the indie ecosystem, Bandcamp is the primary option. The company was sold to Epic Games in 2022, which generated some uncertainty in the community, but it continues to operate with the same terms.

Bandcamp Fridays: on the first Friday of every month, Bandcamp passes 100% of sales to artists (zero commission). Many fans specifically use Bandcamp Fridays to buy music knowing it goes directly to the creator.

Recommendation: create your Bandcamp profile from the start. No intermediary required. The profile is free.

SoundCloud: for demos, rough cuts, and industry feedback

SoundCloud is the reference platform for sharing demos and rough cuts with collaborators, music directors, and journalists. It’s not the best platform for commercial streaming (Spotify is better for that), but it’s where many industry professionals go to discover emerging artists.

The free plan allows up to 3 hours of audio — enough for an EP or a mini-portfolio. The paid plan removes the limit and adds detailed statistics.

Important note: SoundCloud has faced structural economic difficulties for years. If you use SoundCloud as your primary music archive, make backups.

Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer: mass streaming

The streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon Music) are where most people listen to music today. But the economics for artists are very poor: Spotify pays between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream. To earn a basic monthly wage via streams alone, you’d need 300,000 to 500,000 plays per month.

Therefore, the goal of streaming is not to earn money directly — it’s to be discovered and bring fans to Bandcamp, to your concerts, and to your newsletter.

Distribution: how to get onto Spotify and Apple Music

To upload music to Spotify, Apple Music, and the other platforms, you need a distributor (aggregator):

DistroKid: fixed annual payment (~$22/year), unlimited uploads, and you keep 100% of royalties. Very popular among independent musicians.

Amuse: free plan available (with some limits). Swedish company — a positive point for those who value European alternatives.

Bandcamp distribution: Bandcamp allows distribution to Spotify and iTunes from within Bandcamp itself (via integrated DistroKid). Practical if you already use Bandcamp.

Bmat: Barcelona-based company for music rights monitoring and distribution. For professional projects that want serious rights management.

Genre-specific platforms

Electronic music: Beatport and Bandcamp are the reference platforms. The Beatport community is very active for DJs and producers.

Jazz: Bandcamp, Qobuz (Hi-Fi, highly valued by jazz audiophiles), and Spotify’s curated jazz playlists.

Classical: Idagio is the specialist platform for classical music. A much better experience for this genre than generic Spotify.

Electronic club music / DJs: Resident Advisor is the reference for electronic music and clubs. Having a RA profile with your performances is essential if you make club music.

Folk and traditional music: Bandcamp is the best option for direct sales. The specific audience for traditional music often prefers buying directly from the artist.

Summary: your musical digital infrastructure

See also:

• Social media for artists: complete guide
• Newsletter for artists
• Music grants for professionals

Ressona helps musicians build the professional digital presence that makes programmers, journalists, and followers find you. Get in touch.