Tunecore’s self-releasing artists are making noise,  $3 billion dollars worth!

08 December 2022 - Press release

The Leading Independent Development Partner for Self-Releasing Artists Reaches Groundbreaking Milestone of $3 Billion Earned by Artists 

 

TuneCore, the leading independent development partner for self-releasing artists, has achieved the milestone of $3 billion earned by artists (since the company was founded in 2006), reinforcing its status as the world’s highest paying distribution service for self-releasing artists. TuneCore is wholly owned by Believe, one of the world’s leading digital music companies.  

While the $3 billion figure represents a cumulative total of earnings from all TuneCore music creators - including artists ranging from hobbyists and nascent music creators to working professionals and even accomplished artists - the potential for success through an independent distributor has never been greater, with over 8,000 TuneCore artists earning over $10,000, thousands of artists earning between $50,000 and $100,000 and many taking home over $1,000,000. The huge payout to artists is aided by TuneCore’s direct deals with all digital service providers, which is a true differentiator in the market. The company also offers additional revenue streams for its artists via its Social Platforms and YouTube Content ID programs, with TuneCore’s music publishing division having paid artists close to $90,000,000 (since the launch of TuneCore Music Publishing Administration in 2011). By offering a wide array of resources to aid music creators at all stages of their careers, TuneCore has created a platform where artists receive not just world-class distribution services, but a support structure for long-term career growth. 

Self-releasing artists represent the fastest growing segment of the global music market, with all self-releasing artists growing from 1.7% of overall market share in 2015 to 5.3% in 2021 (source: MIDiA Research).  

Denis Ladegaillerie, Chief Executive Officer, Believe commented, “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. The achievement of reaching $3 billion earned by self-releasing artists speaks volumes to the importance of supporting all creators equally. Which 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.” 

At last count, 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. Italy’s La Sad is a brilliant example of this, with three solo acts from different backgrounds and genres, coming together to introduce a new sound for that market through TuneCore, and eventually upstreaming to Believe.

Andreea Gleeson, Chief Executive Officer, TuneCore added, “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. 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.” 

TuneCore and many of its artists share a passionately independent spirit. Atlanta-born, Los Angeles-based R&B artist Tanerélle started her career in 2015 with the electro/dance-pop single “Siren” and has been gaining recognition ever since for her unique style of R&B that blends the hazy production of lo-fi hip-hop with lush soundscapes into an expressive, otherworldly style fitting of her Mama Saturn alter-ego. She has amassed more than 70 million streams on Spotify alone, has garnered media praise from major media outlets including MTV, Paper Magazine, Vibe & more, and her music has been featured on Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, Issa Rae’s Insecure & more, all without the support of the traditional label system. “Being an independent artist has allowed me to evolve as a creative, a woman and an activist,” says Tanerélle. “It has allowed me to feel limitless and in control of my own voice and my own destiny. It’s more than anyone could ask for of this craft.” 

Among the new generation of artists who choose to retain control of their career and build their own team as an independent TuneCore artist, is country music sensation Maggie Baugh. As a teenager, Nashville-based country artist Maggie Baugh initially signed to a record label before carving a path for herself as a self-releasing artist. In 2021, her singles “Drinking To The Broken Hearts” and “Think About Me,” released through TuneCore, amassed over one million streams each on Spotify alone, and Baugh found herself repeatedly turning down label offers as her music went viral on social media. She has garnered media praise from People Magazine, American Songwriter, Taste of Country & more, and “Think About Me” closed out the year as number one on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Country: Best of 2021 playlist. Baugh commented, "As an independent artist, we work hours upon hours to achieve our goals and dreams. We eat, breathe and sleep our careers. Of course, no one should work harder than the artist, but there is something to be said about having a fantastic team and a group of people behind you. I continue to stay independent after success because I want to find the right group of people who genuinely have my best interest at heart, who are willing to work their tails off with me and are excited about what I’ve got going on as an artist.” 

As TuneCore has continued to grow, so has the company’s international artist roster. As a result, artists around the world have opted to embrace careers as self-releasing artists. 34% of artists who generated more than $10,000 on Spotify live in countries outside the top ten music markets (source: Spotify) and TuneCore’s creators outside the US have grown to represent 60% of its new artists and labels. In Italy, renown rapper Vacca, known for his high-profile collaborations with artists like Styles P, previously released albums through EMI (2007’s Faccio quello che voglio), UMG (2010’s Sporco, 2011’s Pelleossa, 2013's Pazienza), and Sony Music (2015’s L’ultimo tango), before ultimately turning away from the traditional label system and returning to his independent roots. Vacca commented, "The best moments of my career were when substantial income began to come from my catalog. At that time, I began to really understand the greatness of TuneCore and the opportunity it was giving us independent artists. Because of TuneCore, we're able to directly manage our projects, our art, and consequently also our life.”

Earlier this year, to further democratize the music industry for self-releasing artists, TuneCore unveiled its new UNLIMITED pricing structure in 2022, giving artists the power to release an unlimited number of singles and albums for one flat annual rate and allowing them to create more music and experiment with different release strategies to advance their careers and feed their growing fanbases. In November 2021, TuneCore also launched Social Platforms, which allows artists to upload their music—for no upfront cost—directly into the music libraries of social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Facebook and Instagram stories and Reels, where they are able to gain exposure while simultaneously earning money from their music. 

By providing an open platform, accessible technology solution for self-releasing artists to widely distribute and earn money from their music, Believe and TuneCore have helped to create a more sustainable and healthy industry where no step is skipped and artists can have the right environment at all stages of their careers to meet their ambitions. Through the Group’s consistent efforts since its creation in 2005 to democratize the music business, by reducing industry gatekeeping and providing education and distribution resources for artists at every stage of their development, Believe and TuneCore continue to work towards creating a more equitable and diverse music ecosystem around the world.