How to sell your music online and keep more than streaming pays
Streaming gets you heard, but it rarely pays the rent. This guide explains the three ways to sell your music online, what each one really earns you, and how to sell directly to the fans who already love your music.
Create your free artist pageWhat streaming actually pays
Spotify does not pay a fixed rate per stream, but independent artists usually see somewhere between $0.003 and $0.005 per stream after their distributor. That means around 250,000 streams to earn $1,000. Since 2024, a track also needs at least 1,000 streams in 12 months before it earns any royalties at all.
A single fan who buys your album for $10 is worth roughly 2,500 streams. That is why more independent artists are adding a direct-to-fan store next to their streaming releases.
The three ways to sell music online
1. Distribution to stores and streaming (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby). You get your music onto Spotify, Apple Music and iTunes. It is great for reach, but you earn per stream or per download at store prices, and you never learn who your listeners are.
2. Music marketplaces (Bandcamp and similar). Fans buy directly from you inside a marketplace. You get better margins and some discovery, but the marketplace owns the experience and the relationship.
3. Your own direct-to-fan store (Musiqo, or your own website). Fans buy, stream and subscribe in a space branded as yours. You set the prices, keep the customer relationship, and can offer memberships and exclusive content.
| Option | Who owns the fan relationship | Roughly what you keep |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming via a distributor | The streaming service | Depends on streams, not spending |
| iTunes / download stores | The store | About 70% of the store price |
| Bandcamp | Shared with Bandcamp | About 85% minus payment fees |
| Musiqo Free | You | 90% minus payment fees, no monthly fee |
| Musiqo Pro | You | 92% minus payment fees, plus $19/mo |
Estimates for illustration only. Store and platform terms change, so check each provider for current rates.
How to sell your music directly to fans with Musiqo
- Sign up free and create your artist hub. It takes a few minutes.
- Upload your albums and songs. Fans can stream previews for free.
- Connect your Stripe account and set prices for albums, songs and memberships. Selling is included on the Free plan.
- Share one link everywhere: your Instagram bio, TikTok, YouTube descriptions, email, and the merch table at shows.
- Post news, stories and tour dates so fans have a reason to come back, then offer a membership for exclusive releases.
What sells best directly to fans
- Full albums and EPs, especially with bonus tracks or demos
- Monthly memberships with early access to new songs
- Exclusive content: live recordings, behind-the-scenes posts, stories
- Pre-releases before a track hits Spotify ("sell before you stream")
Frequently asked questions
Where can I sell my music online?
You can sell through download stores like iTunes via a distributor, through marketplaces like Bandcamp, or directly from your own branded store with a platform like Musiqo. Most independent artists combine streaming for reach with a direct-to-fan store for income.
How do I sell my music online for free?
Bandcamp is free to start and takes a share of each sale. Musiqo is also free to start with no monthly fee and takes 10% per sale, with card processing on top. You can also give music away for free to grow your fan list first.
Can I sell my music on Spotify?
No, Spotify does not sell music. It pays per stream through your distributor. To sell your music you need a store, a marketplace, or your own direct-to-fan platform.
Do I need a record label to sell my music?
No. Independent artists can sell music themselves with a distributor for streaming and a direct-to-fan platform for sales and memberships.
Start selling to the fans you already have
Free to start. Sell albums and memberships for 10% per sale, no monthly fee.
Start free