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Releasing music independently is more accessible than ever, but knowing where to put it isn’t always straightforward.
If you’re an independent artist, the platforms you choose can have a big impact on the direction of your career. Streaming platforms influence how people find your work, how you get paid, and how your audience grows over time.
Here’s a breakdown of the main platforms in 2026, what they offer, and how you can leverage them to work for you and your ambitions.
What should you look for in a platform?
Not every streaming platform is the same, so it helps to understand what you’re actually getting from each one.
Most come down to a few things:
- how you get paid
- how people discover your music
- how much control you have
- how easy it is to build a connection with listeners
Very few platforms cover all of these, which is why most artists use a combination rather than relying on just one.
Spotify – best for reach and visibility
Spotify remains the largest streaming platform out there right now.
Through playlists and recommendations, Spotify gives artists access to a global audience. It also offers advanced analytics, allowing musicians to better understand their audience and refine their promotional strategies. However, its low per-stream payouts mean that artists need huge streaming numbers to generate substantial revenue.
Pros:
- Large global audience
- Playlist exposure can drive discovery
- Widely recognised across the industry
Cons:
- Low pay per stream
- Reliance on algorithms and playlists
- Difficult to stand out
Verdict:
Best for visibility, but usually needs to be supported by other platforms and revenue streams.
Bandcamp – best for direct fan support
Bandcamp works differently to most streaming platforms. Instead of focusing on plays and playlists, it’s built around direct support.
Artists can upload music and sell it as downloads, physical releases or merch, all in one place. It feels closer to a digital storefront than a streaming service, with full control over pricing and how releases are presented.
Around 85-90% of revenue goes directly to the artist, which makes it one of the more sustainable options available. It also keeps the focus on real artists, including a ban on AI-generated content.
Pros:
- High revenue share compared to streaming
- Direct-to-fan model with no algorithm in the way
- Music, downloads and merch all in one place
- Flexible pricing, including pay-what-you-want
Cons:
- Smaller audience than major streaming platforms
- Limited discovery compared to SoundCloud or Spotify
- Basic streaming and playlist features
Verdict:
Best for building income from an existing audience.
SoundCloud – best for discovery and early growth
SoundCloud has been part of independent music culture for years, and it still plays a role in how a lot of artists get their music heard.
It’s quick to upload and doesn’t require a distributor, which makes it easy to share new music. There’s also the option to use SoundCloud as a distributor, pushing your tracks onto platforms like Spotify and Apple Music from the same place.
Through its SoundCloud for Artists tiers, it also offers monetisation options, allowing artists to earn from their music both on SoundCloud and across other platforms and retain 100% of the royalties.
The platform’s open, community-led setup makes it a strong space for discovery, especially for emerging artists looking to build an early audience.
Pros:
- Simple upload and sharing process
- Strong discovery for emerging artists
- Community-led engagement through reposts and interactions
Cons:
- Lower earning potential
- Monetisation is limited
- Less industry weight than larger platforms
Verdict:
Best for getting your music out there and building early traction.
Deezer – best for artist-centric payment models
Deezer offers a similar experience to other streaming platforms, but with a different approach behind the scenes.
Deezer was the first major platform to publicly reform its royalty model and move towards an artist-centric payment model. This means streams from active fans, like people searching for your music or playing it directly, carry more value than passive plays from algorithmic recommendations. It also introduces thresholds that reward artists with a consistent, engaged audience, rather than just high overall stream numbers.
Deezer’s audience is concentrated in specific markets. France is the platform’s home turf, accounting for roughly 40% of its subscriber base. Brazil is another stronghold, along with several other Latin American and European countries.
Pros:
- More direct link between listening and artist payment
- Transparent approach to royalties
- Familiar streaming experience
Cons:
- Smaller audience
- Less impact on discovery
- Limited traction in UK and US listener bases
Verdict:
Best used alongside other platforms, especially if fair pay matters to you.
Lissen – best for direct fan-driven streaming
Lissen approaches streaming in a more direct way, linking artist income directly to the people who listen to their music.
Rather than combining all subscription revenue into one pool, each listener’s subscription is directly tied to their own listening habits. The idea is that if a user is regularly listening to a particular artist, that subscription spend contributes directly to the artist’s earnings.
It also places more emphasis on emerging artists, with a discovery system designed to surface new talent and give smaller artists more visibility, rather than relying heavily on established names.
Alongside this, Lissen offers tools for exclusive content and fan engagement, giving artists more ways to build a closer connection with their audience.
Pros:
- Income linked directly to your own listeners
- No pooled revenue model
- Discovery focused on emerging artists
- Tools for exclusive content and fan engagement
Cons:
- Smaller and still developing platform
- Limited reach compared to major services
- Not yet part of most standard release strategies
Verdict:
Best suited to artists building a dedicated audience and looking for more direct support.
So which platform is best?
There isn’t one clear answer.
Each platform has different benefits depending on what you’re trying to build:
- Spotify helps people find your music at scale
- Bandcamp helps you turn listeners into income
- SoundCloud helps you build early momentum
- Deezer is exploring fairer ways to pay artists
- Lissen shows how streaming could work differently
Most independent artists end up using a mix of streaming platforms, rather than relying on just one.
Releasing music independently now isn’t just about getting it online. It’s about understanding how each platform works and using them in a way that supports your goals.
Some platforms help you get heard. Others help you build something sustainable from your audience. The difference between them becomes clearer over time, especially as you start to grow.
Understanding how platforms work is now part of being an independent artist. It’s not just about making music, but knowing how to release it, position it, and build something around it.
At LCCM, that balance between creativity and industry knowledge is built into the learning experience. Here’ you’ll be part of a community of artists who are actively developing their sound, while learning from tutors with real experience across the music industry.
Whether you’re looking to refine your production, develop your performance, or build your understanding of the business side of music, LCCM’s courses are designed to support different paths into the industry.
