Now Reading: Tidal Offers Direct-to-Fan Downloads with a 90/10 Split
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Tidal Offers Direct-to-Fan Downloads with a 90/10 Split
Photo Credit: Tidal
Tidal adds direct-to-fan album downloads with a 90/10 split, bypassing traditional distributors and putting the platform in direct competition with Bandcamp.
Music streaming platform Tidal now allows independent artists to sell digital downloads directly to fans, bypassing the traditional distribution route at a flat 10% fee—and coming directly for Bandcamp’s lunch. Most digital service providers (DSP) pay pennies per stream, but taking a direct-to-fans (D2F) sales approach offers a much more appealing option, especially for smaller or independent artists.
“Artists in the US can now sell their music on Tidal! Upload an album, set a price, and sell directly to your fans. Listeners can download the highest quality files to their device or play within the Tidal app. No subscription required,” wrote Tidal’s RSA on the former Twitter.
The move puts Tidal in direct competition with artist-first platforms like Bandcamp, which offer a one-stop-shop where fans can discover and immediately support an artist without ever leaving the app.
Tidal takes a 10% fee in the process, leaving 90% of the album’s income for the artist—minus standard payment processing fees, of course. By contrast, Bandcamp charges artists a 15% revenue share fee on digital downloads, which drops to 10% once an artist reaches $5,000 in sales in a 12-month period. Notably, both platforms charge payment processing fees.
The feature is available for artists in the United States, Canada, the UK, and parts of Europe. It’s integrated through the Tidal Upload dashboard, and artists can track transactions in real time and initiate instant payouts. All sales are managed via a connected Stripe account.
Artists set the price they want for their Paid Uploads and retain 90% of all sales. Tidal also states that you must own 100% of the rights to the recording and underlying composition; no uncleared samples or covers without licenses will be permitted.
It’s a welcome development for the platform, which isn’t quite running with the big dogs in the world of streaming. But as more of the middle-lane music streamers look to diversify their income beyond algorithms and playlists, it’s a smart move to draw the attention of smaller or independent artists, as well as their devoted fans.
