How to Sell Your Music: A Guide for Independent Artists

Selling music for commercial use is an excellent way for independent artists to boost revenue. Whether you’re looking to sell your music to artists, stock music buyers, or fans, a strategic approach is key.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Choosing Sales Platforms
  3. Setting Up Distribution
  4. Pricing & Revenue
  5. Tracking Earnings
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs

Key Takeaway

Independent artists can maximise their music sales by strategically selecting platforms, setting competitive prices, and leveraging distribution tools like Melody Rights to retain control over their royalties. A multi-platform approach, combined with smart pricing and revenue tracking, ensures sustainable income and greater visibility in the industry. Throughout this article, you will learn how to sell your music commercially.

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how to sell your music

Why Selling Your Music Strategically Matters

Did you know that independent artists have generated over £425 million in sales through Bandcamp alone?

You might be a seasoned musician or just starting out, but learning to sell your music effectively has never been more significant. The opportunities to sell music online are so big and varied, especially with platforms like SoundCloud reaching 175 million monthly users.

Selling music takes more than just uploading tracks to different platforms. Musicians need a strategic approach to reach the right audiences and maximise revenue. 

Melody Rights gives you complete control over your royalties while distributing your music across streaming platforms, stock sites, and gaming marketplaces

Want to turn your music into a profitable venture? Let’s explore the proven strategies that will help you sell your music successfully.

Choose Your Music Sales Platforms

Your choice of music-selling platforms can greatly affect your earning potential. Melody Rights lets you sell through multiple channels while retaining control over your royalties.

Digital Music Stores

Digital stores give you a chance to sell directly to your fans. Bandcamp stands out because you can set your prices and retain up to 85% of digital sales revenue

Streaming Services

Your music can reach a massive audience through major streaming platforms:

  • Spotify has over 602 million users in 180 markets.
  • Apple Music connects with 112 million subscribers in 167 countries.
  • Amazon Music pays higher artist royalties and works seamlessly with voice-activated devices.

Stock Music Sites- How to sell stock music? 

Stock music platforms provide great opportunities to license your tracks for commercial use:

  • Soundstripe allows users to download unlimited radio-quality music through subscription-based licensing.
  • PremiumBeat, owned by Shutterstock, specializes in exclusive tracks for media projects, including films and games.

Gaming Marketplaces

Game developers constantly need music, creating opportunities for musicians:

  • GameDev Market links artists with game developers seeking quality music assets.
  • Unity Asset Store and Unreal Engine Marketplace let you earn up to 88% of your sales revenue.

Melody Rights simplifies this multi-platform approach with a central dashboard to track earnings from all channels.

Set Up Your Distribution Strategy

​​Set Up Your Music Distribution and Royalty Collection Strategy

A strong distribution strategy ensures you receive every royalty owed across multiple revenue streams. Melody Rights simplifies this process by handling all types of royalties and placing your music on streaming services, stock music sites, gaming marketplaces, and more.

Maximise Your Music’s Reach

Unlike traditional distributors, Melody Rights surpasses platforms like CD Baby and DistroKid. It ensures your music earns from sources such as:

  • TV, radio, and media placements
  • YouTube and public performances
  • Physical product licensing (CDs, toys, merchandise)
  • Stock music sites and gaming marketplaces

This multi-platform approach means you’re not just streaming—you’re earning from every possible channel.

How Distribution Works with Melody Rights

  1. Choose a Subscription Plan – Select a plan that fits your needs, whether you’re an independent artist, producer, or label. Each plan offers different track allowances for distribution.
  2. Upload Your Music – Use the Melody Rights dashboard to submit multiple files at once, including metadata and platform preferences.
  3. Select Your Distribution Channels—Decide where to place your music, including streaming services, stock sites, gaming marketplaces, and more.
  4. Track Earnings in Real Time – Monitor royalties, licensing deals, and streaming revenue through a single dashboard.
  5. Receive Payments – Royalties are automatically calculated and paid directly to your bank. Alternative payment options are available upon request.

Research Market Rates

The independent music market is projected to reach £89.93 billion by 2025, highlighting the vast opportunities for artists to earn. To maximise your revenue, it’s essential to align your pricing strategy with industry standards while maintaining control over your profits. This guide can show you how to sell your music, but

  • Digital singles typically sell for £0.79 to £1.59
  • Albums range between £7.99 and £11.99
  • Stock music licensing fees vary from £16 to £240 per track, depending on exclusivity and usage rights.

Set Competitive Prices

Pricing your music strategically is crucial. With Melody Rights, you have full control over where your music is sold and how you monetize it. Consider:

  • Platform-specific trends – Adjust prices based on the norms of each platform.
  • Audience purchasing power – Research similar artists’ pricing and fan spending habits.
  • Licensing opportunities – Stock sites and gaming marketplaces often offer higher payouts than streaming alone.

Track Your Music Revenue

Understanding where your music generates income is essential. With Melody Rights, you gain complete control and transparency over your royalties through a detailed dashboard that tracks earnings across digital platforms, stock sites, and more—all in one place. The aim of the product is to simplify how to sell your music, how to sell stock music and much more.

Monitor Platform Earnings

The Melody Rights dashboard provides insights into:

  • Income streams from streaming services, stock sites, and gaming marketplaces.
  • Where your music is generating the most earnings.
  • Your royalties from different placements (TV, radio, digital downloads, etc.).

With Melody Rights, you can clearly see your earnings across all distribution channels, making it easier to maximize your royalties.

How to Sell Your Music- Conclusion

Success in music sales comes from smart planning across multiple platforms. The right distribution channels and competitive pricing set the foundation, while revenue tracking helps you make data-driven decisions for future releases.

Melody Rights simplifies this process by providing a detailed dashboard where artists can monitor earnings from streaming platforms, stock sites, and gaming marketplaces—all while retaining full control of their royalties.

Independent artists have countless opportunities in the music industry, but success depends on the right strategies and tools.

Head over to Melody Rights to start your journey in music sales today.

FAQs

Q1. How can independent artists effectively market their music? 

Create a strong online presence through a website and social media profiles. Collaborate with other artists and brands, engage authentically with your audience, and utilise email marketing to build a direct connection with fans. Consider submitting your music to blogs, playlists, and radio stations to expand your reach. 

Read here for more information: How to Sell Music Online and Make Money 

Q2. How can independent artists increase their chances of getting noticed? 

Focus on creating high-quality, unique music that resonates with your target audience. Consistently release new content and engage with fans across various platforms. Collaborate with other artists, submit your music to playlists, and consider working with a music distributor to expand your reach across multiple streaming services.

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