SPOTIFY GIVES INDIE ARTISTS A LIFT

Spotify has just unveiled a new feature that enables indie artists to directly upload their music. After testing the upload tool, the streamery is inviting volunteers to give it a spin in the beta stage.

The Spotify for Artists function allows an artist to schedule a release date, preview the appearance on the site and control the metadata. Royalties will be direct deposited monthly and an earnings report will be provided alongside the other insights that Spotify for Artists already provided. Uploading is free and there are fees or commissions.

Since Spotify for Artists was launched—and it has more than 200k users already—the ability to upload music directly has been one of the top requested features. Spotify worked with a handful of independent artists—Noname, Michael Brun, VIAA and Hot Shade—and shaped the feature based on their feedback.

Currently, upload in Spotify for Artists is only available by invitation and over the next few months, more artists will be asked to participate.

Is this a potential game changer? Is this how Spotify creeps close to providing the services of being a record label without being a label? How will aggregators respond? Stay tuned.