Spotify, the world’s largest music company, will allow select indie artists to upload their own music directly to its platform. The Spotify for Artists account launched its beta version Thursday, and in just a few clicks their music can be ready for the masses. They can even schedule when it goes live, according to a blog post from Spotify.
On the Spotify for Artists page, it explains that once a user has access, they are automatically verified on Spotify. Artists will be able to use the account to promote their work and gain metrics on fan interactions. They can also track their metadata to better understand what their listeners are looking for.
“Your stats can help you run promotional campaigns, pick new singles, or even route your next tour,” the page explains.
As for getting paid? Spotify says it will be as easy as making and maintaining the profile. Royalty payments will be directly deposited into artists’ accounts using payment-processing provider Stripe, and a feature on the artist’s dashboard will allow them to watch how much money their uploaded songs are making. Spotify does not plan to charge for the service.
“Artists receive 50 percent of net revenues from the songs they upload, and Spotify also accounts to publishers and collection societies for additional royalties related to the music composition,” Kene Anoliefo, senior product lead for Spotify’s Creator Marketplace, told Tech Crunch. Artists will receive 100 percent of royalty payments and will be able to track when they will see payouts from their music.
The ability to gather listeners through such a widespread and popular app is good news for artists, particularly those in the early days of their careers. Previously a distributor was needed if artists wanted to be featured on Spotify, Billboard notes. Essentially, artists who own their copyrights can act as their own label using the data provided by Spotify for Artists to boost their own music and keep an eye on fans, royalties, and incoming payments.
Spotify for Artists is available only to a select few hundred invited artists, all U.S.-based, according to the blog post. Spotify says it hopes to invite more in the coming months.
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H/T Tech Crunch