Spotify beta allows indie artists to upload their own songs to the music streamer

Spotify, the world's most popular streaming music site, is looking to expand its library of tunes from independent artists. Right now, indie artists can add their songs to Spotify by either signing with a major record label (which aspiring musicians will tell you is not an easy thing to accomplish) or by employing a third-party service like TuneCore. The latter will put songs from unsigned musicians on over 150 platforms, allowing them to sell their songs on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, Tidal, Deezer and others.

Spotify is beta testing a new service aimed squarely at indie artists. Musicians invited to participate in the private beta will spot a new option in the "Spotify for Artists" mobile app and website that will allow them to directly upload their tunes (see image at the top of this article). The platform is used to view song statistics and for musicians to see what they have earned. Artists will reportedly receive 50% of the revenue and 100% of royalties generated by the songs they uploaded to Spotify; monthly royalty checks will be deposited directly to their bank accounts.

Spotify recommends that artists upload their songs at least five days before they are released to the public. This allows the company to make sure that there is nothing in the lyrics or tunes that infringe on material written by others.

Right now, only a few hundred independent artists are being invited to participate, but Spotify says that it will increase that number in the future.

source: Spotify