From Label to Independence: Navigating the Journey of Publishing Music on Spotify

Vlad Herescu
Dec 5, 2025
4 min read

Imagine the thrill of hearing your music streamed worldwide — reaching listeners in every corner of the globe.Publishing music on Spotify marks a major milestone for any artist. Whether you choose to work with a music label or go independent, the journey involves key decisions, costs, and legal considerations.

This article explores both paths step by step, outlining how artists can get their music online while protecting their rights and maximizing their earnings. Understanding these options will help you make informed choices and prepare confidently for the challenges ahead.

Quick-Start Summary: Getting Started

If You Partner with a Label

Research labels that align with your genre and goals.
Prepare a strong demo or showcase your talent through performances.
Once you attract interest, focus on negotiating favorable contract terms.

If You Go Independent

Create and record your music.
Choose a digital distributor (like DistroKid or TuneCore) to upload to Spotify.
Register your songs with performance rights organizations (PROs) to collect royalties.

These initial steps help set the foundation for sharing your music with a global audience.

Publishing Music with a Label

Working with a music label provides funding, promotion, and distribution support — but also involves specific commitments and legal complexity.

Signing with a Label

The journey starts with identifying labels that match your musical style and artistic vision.Research thoroughly, submit demos, and connect with industry professionals at events.

Before signing, ask:

Does the label align with my genre and growth goals?
How many artists do they manage, and how do they promote new talent?
What’s their philosophy on artist development and creative control?

Once interest is confirmed, you’ll enter contract negotiations.

Common Contract Topics

Ownership and rights to your recordings
Advance payments and recoupment terms
Duration and geographic scope of distribution
Royalties and revenue sharing

⚖️ Tip: Always consult a music legal counsel before signing. They can help you understand key clauses like:Cross-collateralization — tying income from multiple projects togetherSunset clauses — extending terms after contract expiry360 deals — giving labels a share of all revenue streams

Being aware of these “red flags” helps you avoid losing creative and financial control.

Costs Involved

Although labels cover many upfront expenses, they are recouped from your royalties later.

Typical Costs

Recording: studio time, producers, musicians
Marketing & promotion: videos, campaigns, radio plugs
Distribution: managing uploads and metadata

For instance, if you receive a $10,000 advance, and Spotify pays roughly $0.003 per stream, you’d need about 3.3 million streams just to repay that advance — before earning profit.

Combining streaming with merchandise sales or tour revenue can help recover costs faster. This shows why financial planning is critical for artists under label deals.

Spotify Earnings Model

To earn royalties, your song must have at least 1,000 streams in the past 12 months and be played for 30+ seconds per stream. Payments go first to rights holders (labels, publishers, songwriters), then to the artist.

Factors Influencing Earnings

Location of listeners – US/UK streams pay more than lower-income regions
Subscription type – Premium users generate higher payouts
Artist’s contract – Label deals reduce the artist’s share
Royalty system – Spotify’s pro-rata model distributes revenue by total stream share

Approximate Earnings:

10,000 streams → $30–$50
1,000,000 streams → $3,000–$5,000
Payment delay → 2–3 months

Royalties and Revenue Sharing

Labels typically retain the majority of royalties to offset their investment.

Party	Typical Share
Artist	10%–25%
Label	75%–90%

Royalties come from streaming, mechanical, and performance rights. Negotiating better splits or retaining ownership of master recordings can drastically improve long-term income.

Artists like Taylor Swift and Prince famously fought for their masters — proving that control often outweighs short-term gains.Ask yourself:

Do I need cash now, or equity forever?

Before signing, define your priorities and negotiate terms that reflect your value.

Publishing Music Without a Label

Independent publishing offers full creative freedom — but also more responsibility.With the rise of platforms like Spotify for Artists and DistroKid, more musicians are successfully releasing and monetizing their work solo.

Steps for Independent Artists

Create your music – record at home or in professional studios.
Choose a distributor – DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby. Compare based on:
- Pricing and payout speed
- Customer support
- Added services (playlist pitching, sync licensing).
Register your songs – Join a PRO (e.g. ASCAP, BMI) to collect royalties.
Promote your release – Use social media, playlists, collaborations, and shows.

Costs to Expect

Production: equipment, mixing, mastering
Distribution: annual fees ($20–$50 per release)
Marketing: $500–$3,000 depending on reach

Independent artists often leverage low-cost promotion, such as fan engagement, collaborations, and organic content creation.

Royalties for Independent Artists

When self-releasing, you retain nearly all your royalties.Distributors take a small commission, but there’s no label share.

You can earn:

Mechanical royalties (streams and downloads)
Performance royalties (public plays)

Keep a royalty collection checklist listing every PRO and distributor you work with — to stay organized and ensure proper tracking.

The Importance of Legal Advice

Even for independent artists, legal guidance is crucial.A music lawyer can assist with:

Copyright registration and IP protection
Contract reviews with producers or collaborators
Licensing and sampling agreements

Having legal support ensures your creative rights are protected and minimizes disputes.

Conclusion

Publishing music on Spotify — whether through a label or independently — requires careful consideration of contracts, royalties, and ownership.Labels provide structure and resources but take control and revenue share. Independence demands effort and investment but offers freedom and long-term rewards.

At Forefront Legal, we help artists, producers, and creators navigate the legal and financial complexities of the music industry — protecting their work and empowering them to build sustainable careers.

🎵 Take your first step today:Book a consultation with a music lawyer, open an account with a distributor, or draft your first release plan. Every great music career begins with one bold move.