What are the best DSPs for new artists?

For new artists stepping into the digital music world, the term "DSP" (Digital Service Provider) can be understood in two crucial ways: the platforms where listeners will discover and stream your music, and the distribution services you use to get your music onto those platforms. Understanding both is key to building a successful release strategy.

Here is a breakdown of the best DSPs for new artists, separated into these two essential categories.

Part 1: Best DSPs for Reaching an Audience (The "Storefronts")

These are the platforms where your music will be heard. As a new artist, you should focus on the ones that offer the best discovery opportunities and tools to understand your audience.

Spotify: The King of Discovery

Spotify is the world's largest music streaming service, making it an essential platform for any new artist. Its primary strength lies in its powerful algorithmic and curated playlists, which are the main drivers of music discovery for a majority of listeners.

• Why it's great for new artists:

  • Spotify for Artists: This dashboard is a powerful free tool. It allows you to customize your artist profile, view detailed analytics on your listeners (demographics, location, listening habits), and pitch your upcoming releases directly to Spotify's editorial team for playlist consideration.

  • Algorithmic Playlists: Your music can land on personalized playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar, as well as genre- and mood-based radio stations, exposing you to potential fans.

  • Discovery Mode: An opt-in tool that helps prioritize your tracks in algorithmic recommendations, potentially increasing your reach to new listeners.

SoundCloud: The Community Builder

SoundCloud has long been the go-to platform for emerging artists to upload their music, test out new tracks, and connect directly with a community of creators and tastemakers. It's known for its raw, unfiltered environment where many genres and careers are born.

• Why it's great for new artists:

  • Direct Uploads & Community: You can upload your music instantly and interact directly with fans through comments and messages, fostering a strong, grassroots following.

  • Early Adopter Audience: The user base is often actively looking for "the next big thing," making them more receptive to unknown artists.

  • Built-in Distribution: With a SoundCloud for Artists subscription, you can now distribute your tracks directly from SoundCloud to other major DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music.

Apple Music: The Quality Focus

As the second-largest streaming service, Apple Music is another critical platform for reaching a global audience. It is known for its high-quality audio streaming and strong editorial curation.

• Why it's great for new artists:

  • Apple Music for Artists: Similar to Spotify's tool, it provides valuable data on your streams, listener demographics, and Shazam data, which can reveal where your music is making an impact.

  • Editorial Curation: Landing on one of Apple Music's influential curated playlists can significantly boost your visibility.

  • Integration: Being present on Apple Music is crucial for reaching the large global user base that operates within the Apple ecosystem.

Bandcamp: The Direct-to-Fan Marketplace

Bandcamp operates on a different model that is incredibly artist-friendly. It's less of a pure streaming service and more of a marketplace where you can sell your digital music and physical merchandise and connect directly with a dedicated fanbase.

• Why it's great for new artists:

  • Higher Revenue Share: Bandcamp takes a much smaller cut of sales than any other platform, meaning more money goes directly into your pocket

  • Direct Fan Support: It fosters a culture where fans are encouraged to directly purchase music and merchandise, creating a more sustainable revenue stream for independent artists.

  • Bandcamp Fridays: On the first Friday of most months, Bandcamp waives its revenue share entirely, giving 100% of the money to artists and labels.