Independent Music Labels and Young Artists Offer Streaming, on Their Terms

Streaming music services like Spotify and Beats Music have been on the rise.  Although streaming services have made sense for mainstream artists like Katy Perry and Rihanna (who are popular enough to generate substantial revenue from streaming royalties),  many indie artists with smaller audiences have not had much financial success.

Regardless, there is a shift in how consumers are listening to music, so artists can’t fight this and need to adapt.  Some independent record labels are doing just that…they are embracing the streaming revolution on their own terms.  Even if streaming may not have a huge impact on income for indie labels, they are seeing some benefits from large streaming services, as they solve the distribution and audience access problems that traditionally hindered them.

Sub Pop Records, An indie label that introduced artists like Nirvana and the Shins, recently announced a partnership with Drip.fm, a download and subscription service.  Fans who sign up for the Sub Pop feed will pay $10 a month in exchange for singles, albums, and special exclusives from the label.  Other indie labels, like Fool’s Gold, are also experimenting  with subscription models that connect them directly to their fans with exclusive music.

Click here for additional information on how independent labels and young artists are offer streaming on their terms.