TuneCore pays out $3b to self-releasing artists

The Believe-owned service said the figure represents a $500m increase from the $2.5b payout made in April.

A leading player in the global DIY music distribution space, TuneCore, founded in 2005, charges artists a flat annual fee to upload their music to DSPs like Spotify and pays them 100% of the royalties earned.

The company says the payout figure represents a cumulative total of earnings from all TuneCore music creators, “ranging from hobbyists and nascent music creators to working professionals and even accomplished artists.”

“TuneCore is essential to Believe’s overarching mission, as well as key to the Group’s ecosystem, which is designed to support a wide range of artists at all stages of their careers, and across all demographics,” Believe CEO Denis Ladegaillerie said.

“The achievement of reaching $3b earned by self-releasing artists speaks volumes to the importance of supporting all creators equally. This is why the whole artistic community must be nurtured without differentiation to allow the emergence of a new class of self-releasing artists that will be able to sustain themselves by making a living from their art. Not all artists aim at becoming superstars, but all top artists need a launchpad to blossom.”

The report added that more than 8 000 TuneCore artists have earned over $10 000 to date, with thousands of artists earning between $50 000 and $100 000 “and many taking home over $1m.”

TuneCore says the big payout has been aided by its direct deals with all digital service providers, which it termed a true differentiator in the market. It added that it offers more revenue streams for its artists via its social platforms and YouTube content ID programmes.

The company further stated that its music publishing division has paid artists close to $90 million since the launch of TuneCore Music Publishing Administration in 2011.

The report also indicates that over 400 TuneCore artists have been upstreamed to Believe’s premium services levels, Label and Artist Solutions (LAS) as well as Artist Services (AS).

“By strengthening the connections between Believe and TuneCore, the group has built an offering that fits artists’ needs at all stages of their development, and has created an environment where music creators have the freedom to experiment with all music genres – from traditional to progressive styles,” TuneCore said.

TuneCore added that creators outside the US have grown to represent 60% of its new artists and labels.

“We’re proud to offer innovative technology-based services at affordable price points to all music creators, whether you’re a beginner or a top artist,” TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson said

“Ed Sheeran, Lizzo, and Chance the Rapper all started their careers on TuneCore – in fact, the next Ed Sheeran, the next Lizzo and the next Chance could all very well be on our roster right now. Our goal is to give all self-releasing artists the freedom to create, test, perfect – and earn money from – their music, without restrictions. When you foster a space where creativity flows, artists are able to push boundaries and that’s where innovation lives – artists collaborating to create new music, new sounds, and new genres.”

The milestone has been applauded by TuneCore’s DSP partners including Spotify, Apple, Meta, YouTube and TikTok.