In this blog, you’ll learn how to claim your profiles on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Amazon Music, and TIDAL. Plus, we’ve provided some general best practices to help you get started optimizing your presence on each one. Let’s dive in.

Spotify for Artists

Spotify has over 700 million monthly active users and nearly 300 million paid subscribers worldwide. For independent artists, it’s also one of the most powerful discovery engines — with tools like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and editorial playlists surfacing new music to millions of listeners every week.

How to claim your Spotify for Artists profile:

• Go to artists.spotify.com or if you’re a CD Baby artist, click through the dashboard here
• Click “Get Access” and log in with a Spotify account
• Search for your artist name and select your profile
• Verify your identity via your distributor
• Once approved — usually within a few days — you’ll have full access

Apple Music for Artists

Last year, Apple Music marked its tenth anniversary with record-breaking user subscriptions and brand new product features such as Set Lists. The service’s song recognition tool, Shazam, generated over 1 billion recognitions per month last year – fueling music discovery in seamless ways for fans all over the world.

How to claim your Apple Music for Artists profile:

1. Go to artists.apple.com or if you’re a CD Baby artist, click here
2. Sign in with your Apple ID
3. Search for your artist name in the directory
4. Request access and verify through your distributor or label

TikTok for Artists

TikTok is one of the leading platforms for music discovery, monetization, and chart success today. In 2025, 84% of all songs that entered the Billboard Global 200 went viral on TikTok beforehand. The platform’s short-form video content is like fuel for spreading music – as users can participate in viral challenges, trends, and dances – pulling tracks from TikTok’s library of music to use in their content.

How to claim your TikTok artist account:

1. Download TikTok and create a personal account if you don’t have one
2. Apply for a TikTok Creator Account or Artist Account through TikTok for Artists at artists.tiktok.com
3. Submit your distributor information and verify your artist identity
4. Once approved, your profile displays a music note badge linking to your catalog

Amazon Music for Artists

Amazon Music has more than 100 million customers globally across its free, Prime, and Unlimited tiers. It’s deeply integrated into the Amazon ecosystem — including Echo devices and Alexa — meaning your music can surface in ways that no other platform replicates, including voice-activated playback in listeners’ homes. Amazon Music for Artists gives independent artists meaningful access to streaming data, editorial opportunities, and promotional features.

How to claim your Amazon Music for Artists profile:

1. Go to music.amazon.com/artists and click “Get Started” or if you’re a CD Baby artist, click here
2. Sign in with an existing Amazon account
3. Find your artist page by searching your artist name
4. Verify ownership by confirming your distributor relationship (CD Baby artists are eligible immediately upon release)

TIDAL for Artists

TIDAL is built for artists. It pays some of the highest per-stream royalty rates in the industry through its user-centric payment model — meaning your royalties come directly from the fans who listen to your music, not from a general streaming pool. TIDAL also has a passionate, high-engagement listener base that skews toward music enthusiasts who stream deeply and spend more.

How to claim your TIDAL for Artists profile:

1. Log into the Tidal website or app and search for your artist name or click here
2. Click your artist profile
3. Select the option to claim your profile
4. Verify your identity through CD Baby. This is the fastest option. That usually gives immediate approval and access. 

How to make the most of your claimed profiles

Here are a few things every artist should do immediately after gaining access:

• Upload a high-resolution, professional artist photo to every platform
• Write a bio that speaks to new fans — not just people who already know you
• Pin your latest or most important release as a featured track
• Check your analytics weekly to understand which markets and playlists are driving growth
• Use pre-save and pre-release pitch tools ahead of every new release

Consistency across platforms matters too. Fans who find you on TikTok might then check your Spotify profile or your Apple Music page. A unified, professional presence across all five platforms signals that you take your career seriously — and that builds the kind of trust that turns casual listeners into real fans.

Ready to get your music on these platforms and over 150 others globally? Create a free account with CD Baby. We offer affordable pay-per-release rates with no annual fees. Get started today!

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The post How to claim your artist profiles on Spotify, Apple Music, and other top platforms appeared first on DIY Musician.

Takeaway #1: The DIY path to success is real and sustainable

More than a third of artists who generated $10,000 or more in Spotify royalties last year were DIY – meaning they self-released music through independent distributors like CD Baby – or began their careers that way before signing to a label.

For a long time, going DIY meant accepting a ceiling on your earnings and navigating your way around countless barriers. But with independent distributors like CD Baby, it’s easier than ever to release your music on top platforms while maintaining full creative control of your music. Learn how to distribute your music with CD Baby in our Distribution Playbook.

Takeaway #2: Emerging artists are earning more than ever

In 2025, the 100,000th-highest-earning artist generated more than $7,300 in royalties from Spotify alone. In 2015, this same tier of artist was earning $350. That’s up more than twentyfold in a decade.

If you’re in the early stages of releasing your music, this number should be encouraging – not as a promise of overnight success, but as evidence that consistency pays off in the long run. 

It’s an important lesson to independent artists beginning to strategize releases – aim for consistency and sustainability to build momentum – intermittent drops make it harder to keep your fanbase engaged. Spotify clarified that it paid over 90% of DIY royalties in 2025 to artists that had been releasing music for more than a year on the platform. That means, the platform is increasingly rewarding artists who stick around and keep releasing music. 

You can spread releases out over time and get more streams per song using the waterfall release strategy.

Takeaway #3: Streaming is driving concert revenue

Royalties may get the most attention when it comes to earning from streams, but Spotify’s report highlights how the platform is now a significant driver for live music income.

By mid-2025, Spotify drove over $1 billion in gross concert ticket sales. That number has since exceeded $1.5 billion – and it keeps growing. By intelligently surfacing nearby shows to fans, Spotify is actively converting everyday streams into ticket sales.

It’s another reason to treat your Spotify for Artists profile — and your profiles across all streaming platforms – as a storefront for your music business, not just a place to upload your recordings. First, optimize your artist profile to make a strong impression on new visitors. Then sign up for Bandsintown to list your upcoming concerts on your profile.

Conclusion

If there’s one thing to learn from Spotify’s Loud and Clear report, it’s that there’s never been a better time to be an independent artist. More artists are earning real money at earlier stages. The prevalence of DIY musicians building careers on the platform is encouraging and proves artists don’t need a record deal to succeed. And streaming isn’t just operating within a bubble – it’s powering fan discovery and filling concert venues. 

But just because the industry is more indie-friendly, doesn’t mean it’s easy. Building a career around your music takes consistent work, smart releases, and the right tools. CD Baby’s empowered independent artists since 1998, offering distribution to over 150 streaming platforms worldwide along with professional-grade marketing tools and insights. 

Ready to release your music to platforms like Spotify? Create a free CD Baby account today. We’ll have your back from submission to release day and beyond. 

Get Started

The post There’s never been a better time to be independent – Spotify data shows appeared first on DIY Musician.

Girl Named Tom — siblings Bekah, Josh, and Caleb — grew up in the small town of Pettisville, Ohio. They formed their band in 2019, not long after their dad fell ill and before any of them had scattered to medical school. Seven years later, they’ve won The Voice, topped the iTunes charts, released two independent full-length albums, built a devoted fan community, and figured out — largely on their own — how to turn music into a sustainable career.

This month, we sat down with all three to talk through their latest album Dust to Dust, how they think about releasing and promoting music as independent artists, and the hard-won lessons they want to pass on to others building their own paths.

Start with a vision and document it

Before the Dust to Dust campaign began, the band created a shared vision document: a Canva presentation that mapped out what the album was, what they wanted it to accomplish, and who they needed help from.

This is something any independent artist can do — regardless of team size or budget. A clear document that captures your artistic vision and release goals helps you stay aligned internally and communicate efficiently with collaborators. Within the document, aim to define what the release is about and set concrete, specific goals (streaming benchmarks, merch sales, press coverage etc.).

Plant seeds and harvest the momentum

Girl Named Tom won The Voice in 2021. The day after the finale aired, their album was charting at number one on iTunes. But Josh was quick to point out that the lesson isn’t “get on a TV show.” It’s about recognizing windows and being prepared to capitalize on them.

Think about what momentum triggers exist in your own career: a live show, a sync placement, a viral video, a blog feature, a support slot on a bigger tour. When those windows open, have something ready to release or promote. Don’t let the moment pass without a plan.

Make a short list of upcoming moments in your calendar where you expect heightened visibility. Plan at least one release, campaign, or announcement to coincide with each one.

Give your work a framework to stay focused

One of the more distinct creative decisions Girl Named Tom made was structuring their albums around the four elements: Wilder Then (water), Dust to Dust (earth), with two more to come. This gives each release a context and a sense of continuity – both of which can help drive momentum.

A framework like this does double duty: it keeps you creatively focused and gives your audience a reason to come back. Even if you’re not making concept albums, you can build frameworks around themes, visual aesthetics, production approaches, or sonic eras that make your releases cohere.

Don’t rely on social media to reach your fans

Girl Named Tom are candid about the limits of social media as a fan engagement channel. Bekah noted that most of their Instagram posts reach 80% non-followers — meaning the platform is more useful for discovery than for keeping existing fans close.

That’s why the band created an email and SMS text list to let fans know about new releases, merch drops, and more – without having to contend with the algorithm.

The lesson here is practical: build direct lines to your fans. Email and text lists aren’t glamorous, but they’re yours. You own them. No algorithm stands between you and your audience.

• Collect emails and/or phone numbers at every live show
• Use a text messaging platform to send show announcements and release news directly to fans
• Treat social media as a discovery tool, not your primary fan communication channel

Build your fanbase by playing live

Girl Named Tom started with house shows — six people in a living room, folding chairs, “maybe 20 on a good night.” They still do meet-and-greets after every show. Their conviction about the value of live performance hasn’t changed since those early days.

Live performance isn’t just a revenue stream — it’s where you build the community that sustains everything else. The email list, the word-of-mouth, the content — all of it flows from showing up in a room with real people.

Key Takeaways

• Make a written vision document before every release — get yourself and your collaborators aligned
• Identify momentum windows and have something ready to release or promote when they come
• Give your work a long-term framework that rewards fans who follow you across releases
• Build direct fan communication channels — email and text lists — that you own
• Start a membership or fan club program using content you already have
• Work with collaborators who amplify your vision, not replace it
• Play live as often as you can — the real fan relationships start there

Get your music heard with CD Baby

Ready to start your next release? Girl Named Tom’s journey is proof that independent artists can build something real — on their own terms, with the right tools behind them.

CD Baby helps you get there. Creating an account is free, and with affordable pay-per-release pricing and distribution to more than 150 platforms worldwide — including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube — you can put your music in front of fans everywhere without giving up ownership or waiting for someone else’s permission.

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The post CD Baby Artist Spotlight: Girl Named Tom appeared first on DIY Musician.

Some of these steps are quicker fixes — like collecting royalties you’ve already generated. Others take more time, like building a repeatable marketing strategy. But together, they can add up to a more sustainable music career. 

1. Collect all your royalties

Before you explore new income streams, make sure you’re getting paid for revenue you’re already generating.

CD Baby pays you recording royalties from streaming automatically. But there are other royalties you may be missing — like mechanical and digital performance royalties you can collect through CDB Boost or micro-sync royalties through CD Baby’s Social Video Monetization.

You should also register with a Performance Rights Organization (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC) to collect performance royalties.

If you’re not set up across all of these, you’re leaving money on the table.

2. Create a marketing strategy

A music marketing strategy can help you maximize revenue from upcoming opportunities. When it comes to promoting new music, announcing shows, or dropping new merch – document what tactics work well and formalize them into strategies. Strong marketing strategies help you build momentum and sustain revenue.

3. Promote your catalog

Your music catalog is one of your most valuable assets. In fact, 2025 data from Luminate shows that catalog tracks (songs older than 18 months) account for a whopping 75.8% of U.S. streams. Continue promoting your catalog by playing live shows, playlisting your music, promoting music on social media, and remarketing older songs with a new music video or alternate version. 

4. Boost your streams

If your streams are slowing down or only spiking around new releases, you need a stronger streaming platform strategy. Learn how to strategically reach your first 1,000 streams to discover crucial insights about your fans and marketing gaps and strengths, then channel those insights into your road to 5,000 streams.

5. Fanclubs and subscriptions

Start a fan club or subscription-based program (like Patreon) to give your top fans access to exclusive content, merch, and more. You don’t have to start monetizing a fan club right away – especially if you’re an emerging artist. Grow your community organically, then give fans more monetized ways to support you.

6. Play live

Live performances are a fast and simple way to earn more revenue. Diversify your live shows by playing a mix of ticket-share and guaranteed-pay concerts. Learn how to book shows here.

7. Sell merch

From t-shirts to stickers and key chains, artist merch is more popular than ever. Add your artist name to your merch for the additional benefit of free exposure. Learn how to create and sell merch here.

8. Sell physical releases

Latest data from the IFPI Global Music Report shows growth in physical release sales outpaced digital for only the second time on record. You can print vinyl and CDs through our partners at Disc Makers.

9. Arrange collaborations

Reach new audiences, expand your catalog, and even earn up-front revenue by collaborating with other artists. Read our guide to industry networking to learn how you can build connections and arrange fruitful collaborations.

10. Teach your craft

Teaching is a common revenue stream for musicians and the best part is you don’t need to teach full-time. Taking on a student or two part-time can pad your revenue (and help you maintain your chops).

Distribute your music with CD Baby

Ready to start earning more from your music? It all starts with getting heard.

CD Baby offers affordable pay-per-release distribution to over 150 streaming platforms around the world. Since our start in 1998, we’ve paid out over $1 billion in royalties to independent artists just like you.

Create a CD Baby account today to prepare for your next release. We’ll be there to support you from your submission to your release day and beyond. 

Get Started

The post 10 ways to earn more money from your music appeared first on DIY Musician.

Before we dive in, a quick note: nothing sets you up for a successful release day like a well-executed 4-6 week rollout strategy beforehand. Whether you’re dropping a single or a full album, building anticipation in advance is what drives meaningful results once your music goes live.

Now, here’s how to execute on the day itself.

Update your social media and post announcement content

Your socials are your command center for promotion release day. Visuals should feel cohesive and posts should point directly to the release.

Update your profiles:

• Swap in new profile and header images tied to the release
• Update your link in bio (prioritize streaming links and your website)
• Pin a post that highlights the release

Post with intent:

• Main announcement posts: cover art, clear caption tagging collaborators, streaming link (in post or in bio)
• Short-form videos: teaser, performance clip, or behind-the-scenes
• Stories: multiple frames with link stickers

Use streaming integrations:

• TikTok’s “Add to Music App” lets fans save your songs to Spotify and Apple Music directly from the app
• Instagram’s “Add Music” feature allows you and your fans to sync your music with visuals

Stay active throughout the day:

• Respond to comments and DMs from fans
• Reshare fan posts about your music
• Share playlist adds, press coverage, and streaming milestones from platform analytics

Claim, optimize, and promote your streaming platform profiles

Make sure you’re set up on all major platforms and using key features to promote your music – each platform varies!

Once you’ve claimed your streaming profiles:

• Update your profile photo/banners, artist bios, and gallery images where available
• Use platform tools to feature your release prominently on your profiles (e.g. Spotify’s Artist Pick or Apple Music “Artist Content” section)
• Encourage your fans to save your tracks, add them to playlists, and share with friends

Activate your email list

Email is one of the best ways to directly reach your fans. In the leadup to a release, create a newsletter and build your email list by promoting it over social media and at your merch booth.

On release day, send an announcement email that includes:

• A personal message to your fans about the release
• Cover art
• Streaming links
• Any additional promotion (merch, live shows, giveaways, etc.)

Keep your email short – your goal is to drive listens.

Amplify your press coverage

Press coverage increases your credibility and offers valuable exposure. You’ll want to prepare a press release and pitch the press ahead of your release day. 

Once your music is live, monitor the press for coverage and:

• Reshare any premieres across socials and tag the journalists
• Incorporate favorable press quotes into your bio
• Include press quotes in industry networking correspondence

Launch your music video strategically

A music video allows you to build a world around your release. If you’re dropping a full album, make a music video for a lead single or two.

Once you’ve finalized your video, promote it on release day:

• Host a YouTube Premiere
• Post short-form clips of the video across socials, driving to the main video
• Embed the music video on your website

If you have the music video finalized in time, include it within your press pitches.

Boost high-performing content

Instagram Boost and TikTok Spark Ads are simple, cost-effective ways to start using paid promotion — without creating new content. 

Track how your posts perform on release day, then put some budget behind the ones that are already gaining traction. You can start with just $5-10 per day and continue promoting what works.

Play a release show or host a listening party

Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate your release. Whether it’s a release show, a listening party, or simply taking time for yourself, build something into the day that you can enjoy.

If you’re planning a release show, follow our best practices for booking and promoting your show.

Release your music with CD Baby

A successful release day comes down to preparation, focus, and execution. When your visuals are aligned, you’ve built a story that’s spreading around your release, and you’re actively engaging with fans across channels, you give your music the best chance to break through.

And when you have the right tools behind you, executing on release day becomes a whole lot easier. Get started at CD Baby and set your release up for success – with transparent pricing, no annual fees, and everything you need to release with confidence.

Get Started

The post The Complete Release Day Checklist appeared first on DIY Musician.

What happens when a fan uses your song in a TikTok video? Or when your music plays in a YouTube video?

In those cases, you’re owed micro-sync royalties – income generated when your music is paired with content on “social video” platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. These are high-volume, low-fee licenses (fractions of cents in the U.S.) that are often automated to cover the performance and mechanical rights for uses in videos.

How is social media and video monetization different from other ways of making money from music?

In the early days of mass-distributed recorded music, the way artists and songwriters earned money from their work was relatively simple:

• Artists were paid when recordings were sold on physical formats like vinyl or CDs
• Songwriters earned when their compositions were reproduced on those formats, broadcast on the radio, or performed live 

If an artist wrote their own songs, they earned double the royalties — as both a songwriter and the artist. That basic structure still exists today, but it’s expanded with the rise of streaming. 

Music streaming generates three kinds of royalties predicating on both the sound recording and the composition of a song:

• Recording royalties (for the sound recording, collected by CD Baby)
• Mechanical royalties (for the composition, collected by The Mechanical Licensing Collective – The MLC)
• Performance royalties (for the composition, collected by Performing Rights Organizations – PROs) 

As music distribution expanded to include platforms like YouTube and TikTok — where users can add copyrighted music to their visual posts — another layer was added: micro-sync royalties.

Where can I monetize my music?

In this blog post, you’ll learn how to monetize your music and collect the revenue on four major social video platforms: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. 

If you’re a CD Baby artist looking to collect micro-sync royalties from any of these platforms, you’ll need to opt into our Social Video Monetization program – our service that helps independent artists collect royalties from social-video platforms.

A quick note about eligibility: only original songs — without any territory restrictions — are eligible for monetization. Cover songs (even if fully licensed) and public domain songs are not eligible. Learn more about eligibility here.

How to monetize music on YouTube

When you distribute your music to YouTube Music, the platform creates “art tracks” – automatically generated videos that pair your audio with static cover art hosted on a dedicated YouTube channel called “[Your Artist Name] – Topic.” 

These tracks generate revenue similarly to other streaming platforms — from advertisement views and paid subscribers streaming your tracks. Art tracks generate streaming royalties (sound recording revenue) paid out by CD Baby and publishing royalties (performance paid by PROs and mechanicals by The Mechanical Licensing collective). 

But other YouTubers may use your music in their own videos, too. In those cases, you’re entitled to micro-sync royalties. YouTube’s Content ID system detects when your copyrighted audio appears in a video and allows CD Baby to begin collecting ad and subscription revenue from those videos – in the form of micro-sync royalties.

How to monetize music on Facebook and Instagram

Facebook and Instagram differ from the traditional streaming services. When you distribute your music to Facebook or Instagram, it’s entered into a library for users to add snippets of your tracks to their posts.

Every unique post that contains your track is considered a “production event.” At 100 events, Facebook and Instagram begin reporting usage to CD Baby and issuing payments on a quarterly basis.

In addition to unlocking revenue for artists, song placements can boost discovery. When a user adds your song to their post, viewers can click into the song from the post to view the full track info and even add it directly to their Spotify “Liked Songs.”

How to monetize music on TikTok

While CD Baby can automatically distribute your music to TikTok’s music library, you can use the Social Video Monetization tool to monetize your music on the platform.

Similar to Facebook and Instagram, you’ll earn sync royalty revenue from TikTok videos that use your songs.

But you can optimize your presence on TikTok for music by applying for a TikTok for Artists profile here. TikTok for Artists gives you access to a range of tools to further customize your profile, promote your music, and analyze fan behavior – allowing you to get more strategic with your releases and earn more from your catalog.

Conclusion

CD Baby’s Social Video Monetization tool bridges the gap between social media exposure and revenue by empowering artists to monetize the use of their tracks across platforms. 

It’s just one of many tools CD Baby offers to help independent artists earn more from their music. Create a free CD Baby account today and access distribution to over 150 platforms worldwide – with no annual fees — and be sure to opt into Social Video Monetization for all eligible releases.

Get Started

The post How to monetize your music on every platform with CD Baby appeared first on DIY Musician.

Whether you’re figuring out how to get on Spotify playlists or how to choose the right distributor, you may run into conflicting advice.

One blog says one thing. A YouTuber says another. Reddit threads offer dozens of anonymous opinions. And now AI tools attempt to summarize it all — accurate or not.

Meanwhile, the music industry keeps evolving. Platforms roll out new features, algorithms shift, royalty systems change. What worked a year ago might not work today. 

And you can face real consequences for acting on bad information — from lost revenue to delayed releases. So where do you go to find information you can actually trust?

CD Baby provides dependable, actionable information for independent artists

At CD Baby, our mission is to provide you with the information, knowledge, and strategies you need to succeed. Here’s how we do it.

Built on over 25 years of music distribution experience

A pioneer of digital music distribution, we’ve seen the industry evolve since our start in 1998. We transformed through the shift from physical to digital, worked alongside the major streaming platforms as they grew, and helped shape today’s distribution standards. You benefit from that experience directly, as we channel that knowledge into supporting artists through the future.

Direct access to streaming platforms and other digital service providers

We don’t rely on secondhand information. A preferred distributor for streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, we work closely with our partners to learn about platform changes ahead of time, understand how features work, and share best practices and updates directly with you.

Data-driven insights from millions of releases

Alongside partner data, we draw insights from the millions of releases we distribute and verified industry sources (Luminate, IFPI, MBW, MIDiA). That allows us to recommend strategies based on what actually drives streams, where artists commonly run into issues, and how trends evolve over time — not speculation or generic best practices.

A rigorous editorial process you can trust

We curate our content to educate, inspire, and empower independent artists. We choose topics based on the most common questions, pitfalls, and strategies we’ve seen throughout decades of experience in music distribution. Before publishing, we fact-check every article with reputable sources and in-house experts, and focus on keeping our content clear, practical, and easy to apply — not overly technical or filled with jargon.

Practical, realistic advice

We set realistic expectations for our artists. We understand growth stems from consistent effort over a long period of time. As such, our content provides sustainable, organic-first, and strategic advice with realistic outcomes. You won’t find false promises or industry hacks.

Timely music industry insights and updates

From major report summaries to platform updates, our aim is to get you actionable information as fast as possible. We maintain our foundational guides to essential topics, consistently monitor industry news, and keep in touch with partners to get you the latest updates.

How to stay informed as an independent artist

CD Baby offers a range of resources to help you grow — from complete downloadable guides to marketing strategies and insights from fellow independent artists. 

Want to stay in the know? Take these next steps:

• Bookmark the CD Baby Blog for ongoing guidance and urgent news
• Sign up for the newsletter to get weekly resources and monthly industry news roundups
• Explore our Free Musician Guides to find comprehensive downloadable guides on major industry topics
• Visit our Help Center if you need help with your release

The post How to find reliable music industry advice (why artists trust CD Baby) appeared first on DIY Musician.

This month, we spoke with pop-soul, singer-songwriter, and social media creator Olivia King from Warwick, Rhode Island. With over 450,000 followers across social platforms and more than 10 million streams on Spotify, Olivia has built a devout fanbase (her “Kweens”) with whom she shares her journeys in faith, fertility, and daily life.

Three release tips from Olivia King

Olivia’s latest single, “Grace” is her second faith-based release and follows her experience navigating a difficult fertility journey.

Here are three key ways Olivia promoted the single.

1. Engage your fans in exciting ways

Olivia empowers her fans by letting them vote on every aspect of her release — from her outfit in the cover art to the song title. 

What you can learn

Empower your fans and make them feel involved in a community around your music. Whether it’s a celebratory release show, a fan group chat, or a poll about release and merch details – giving your fans a voice can turn them into powerful advocates for your music.

2. Balance promo with behind-the-scenes content

Olivia shares real-time life updates including her fertility journey, which has strengthened her connection with fans and provided therapeutic value. 

What you can learn

It’s expected that in the lead-up to a release, you’re focused on promotion. But don’t let valuable behind-the-scenes content and general life updates fall by the wayside. Sharing moments with fans can drive deeper engagement and build relationships, especially if your stories relate to your music.

3. Drive fan engagement with DM prompts and giveaways

Olivia set up an automated chat flow to automatically send a pre-save link to fans who commented “Grace” on any of her social media posts. Fans who commented were then entered to win a mystery box from Olivia.

What you can learn

There’s really two tactics at work here. First, increase your engagement on posts by prompting your fans to save, share, or comment. Second, gamify your call to action by running a giveaway or a contest.

Join over 2 million artists like Olivia King

A pioneer of digital music distribution, CD Baby has empowered independent artists for decades. Create a CD Baby artist account today and distribute your release to over 150 platforms worldwide with no annual fees. Plus, get access to publishing admin and marketing tools to help you turn your music into momentum.

Get Started

The post CD Baby Artist Spotlight: Olivia King appeared first on DIY Musician.

Global recorded music revenue grew 6.4% in 2025

For the first time, global recorded music revenue surpassed $30 billion in 2025, with growth increasing to 6.4%, up from 4.7% the year before. That growth was consistent across 57 of the top 58 markets — only because, IFPI notes, one market had a record 2024 year. 

Latin North America was the fastest growing region at 17.1% YoY. The Middle East and North Africa (15.2%), Sub-Saharan Africa (15.2%), and Asia (10.9%), all saw double-digit growth, too.

Paid subscription streaming revenues increased 8.8% 

Streaming remains the engine of industry growth. Paid subscription streaming revenue rose 8.8% in 2025, helping push total streaming revenue past $22 billion for the first time. Streaming now accounts for nearly 70% of total recorded music revenues, underscoring today’s streaming-first reality.

Looking to get your music onto streaming platforms like Spotify? Create a CD Baby account today and distribute to over 150 platforms with no annual fees. 

Physical music trade revenues increased 8.0% – outpacing digital

For only the second time on record, revenue growth from physical formats outpaced that of digital. Vinyl sales grew 13.7% YoY, largely driven by the world’s leading physical market, Japan. IFPI notes, “Beyond serving as a listening format, physical products also provide superfans with a tangible means of expressing their fandom.”

Plan a merch strategy for your next release. Check out our tips for boosting your merch sales here.

Performance rights revenue grew 0.3%

Despite a modest 0.3% increase, 2025 marked the fifth successive year of growth for performance rights. Altogether, performance rights accounted for 9.3% of total global industry revenue. 

It’s an important reminder that your music may be generating more types of royalties than you’re collecting. Register your music with a Performance Rights Organization (PRO) such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC to collect performance royalties and sign up for CDB Boost to collect digital performance royalties and more.

Record labels invested $8.1 billion in artists

In 2024, record labels invested a total of $8.1 billion in A&R and marketing — highlighting just how critical promotion is in today’s landscape.

While that number may feel out of reach for independent artists, success doesn’t require massive budgets. The industry’s continual shift toward creator-first platforms means independent artists have access to professional-grade tools, strategies, and teams to help them grow. Build your foundation with our complete Guide to Music Marketing and explore our marketing tools to begin growing your fanbase.

Conclusion

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The post 5 key takeaways from the IFPI Global Music Report 2026 appeared first on DIY Musician.

What is the Spotify Artist Profile protection tool?

Spotify is testing a new “Artist Profile Protection” feature that lets you approve or reject releases before they go live on your profile. It’s the latest step in addressing the rise of AI music slop – mass uploads of low-effort music by bad actors trying to game Spotify’s shared royalty pool system.

At CD Baby, our mission is to not only distribute your music, but help protect it across our partner platforms. As a platinum preferred distributor, CD Baby is proud to work alongside Spotify to help ensure artists can sustainably manage, grow, and earn from their catalogs.

Who is the Spotify Artist Profile Protection tool for?

The new feature will give artists more control over the music that appears on their profiles, but may not be for every artist. If you opt into the tool, you’ll be required to review every release before it goes live – forgetting to review might cause delays or legitimately block your release. Spotify recommends this tool only for artists who actively manage their catalog. 

How does it work?

If you’re part of the beta, you’ll find Artist Profile Protection in your Spotify for Artists settings on desktop or mobile web. Artist Team Admins and Editors can manage these settings. Once enabled, you’ll receive an email anytime music is delivered to Spotify using your artist name. From there, you can review eligible releases and choose to approve or decline them.

If you approve a release, it will go live under your profile on its release date and count toward your stats and fan recommendations as usual. If you decline it — or take no action — it won’t appear on your Spotify Artist profile. 

To streamline legitimate releases, Spotify will give you an artist key – a unique code you can share with trusted partners. Any release delivered with your artist key is automatically approved and will go live as normal.

Next steps

As the feature is in early beta, the tool is not finalized. Spotify will collect feedback from artists and continue to refine it before rolling it out widely.

If you’re not included yet, or choose not to opt in, releasing music still works the way it always has. And if a release is misattributed to you, you can still report it to Spotify. 

Looking to get your music on Spotify? Create a free account with CD Baby today to distribute your music to Spotify and more than 150 other platforms with no annual fees. Plus, with CD Baby it’s easy to claim your Spotify for Artists profile, where you can access tools like Artist Profile Protection and more.

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The post Spotify’s Artist Profile Protection: What you need to know appeared first on DIY Musician.