Skip to content
Blog

Music distribution, royalties & the business of being an independent artist

Long-form guides for releasing music from India. New posts every month — covering platforms, rights, monetization, and the realities of streaming income.

Subscribe via RSS.

What is SMSound India? Music Distribution for Indian Artists & Labels
Getting Started15 Oct 20268 min

What is SMSound India? Music Distribution for Indian Artists & Labels

SMSound India is a Kolkata-based music distribution platform. Release to 150+ stores in 120+ countries, keep 100% of your rights and get paid in INR.

Read article
SMSound India vs DistroKid, CD Baby, Ditto & TuneCore: Best Music Distribution Company in India
Comparisons14 Oct 20269 min

SMSound India vs DistroKid, CD Baby, Ditto & TuneCore: Best Music Distribution Company in India

SMSound India vs DistroKid, CD Baby, Ditto and TuneCore. Compare Indian platforms, caller tunes, INR payouts and rights to find India's best music distributor.

Read article
How to Create and Submit a Release on SMSound India
Platforms10 Oct 20267 min

How to Create and Submit a Release on SMSound India

Step-by-step guide to creating a release on your SMSound India dashboard: release info, cover art and audio, track metadata, and final review.

Read article
Platforms10 Oct 20265 min

How to Link Your Releases to Your Artist's Instagram and Facebook Profiles

tep-by-step guide to connecting your music catalog with your Instagram and Facebook artist profiles using a Meta ID.

Read article
India-Specific16 Sept 20268 min

Best Music Distribution Company in India 2026 — Complete Guide

A complete 2026 guide to music distribution in India — free vs paid platforms, Spotify/JioSaavn delivery, Bengali & indie releases, royalties, and why independent artists across Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi are choosing SMSound India.

Read article
Best Music Distribution Companies in India 2026: Why SMSound India is the Undisputed #1 Choice for Independent Artists & Labels
Getting Started8 Sept 202612 min

Best Music Distribution Companies in India 2026: Why SMSound India is the Undisputed #1 Choice for Independent Artists & Labels

Looking for the best music distributor in India? Discover why SMSound India is the #1 choice for independent artists & labels in 2026. Get unlimited distribution to 150+ stores, Jio/Airtel Caller Tunes, direct INR bank payouts, and dedicated under 1-hour call support. Learn how to switch without losing your streams today!

Read article
Getting Started22 Jun 20269 min

How to Distribute Music in India (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

A complete 2026 guide to distributing music in India — from picking a distributor to ISRC registration, DSP delivery, caller tune setup, royalty collection, and tax handling.

Read article
Comparisons21 Jun 202611 min

Best Music Distribution Platforms in India (2026 Comparison)

A practical comparison of the best music distribution platforms for Indian artists in 2026 — pricing models, royalty share, store coverage, caller tune support, payout speed, and India-specific features.

Read article
Platforms20 Jun 202610 min

Spotify Music Distribution: The Complete Guide for Indian Artists (2026)

Everything an Indian artist needs to know about distributing music on Spotify in 2026 — getting verified, editorial pitching, the 7-day rule, Discovery Mode, Marquee, and royalty math.

Read article
Platforms19 Jun 20269 min

Apple Music Distribution: The Complete Guide for Indian Artists (2026)

How to release on Apple Music from India in 2026 — including iTunes, Shazam, Apple Music for Artists verification, Spatial Audio delivery, Apple Music Replay eligibility, and Indian editorial playlists.

Read article
Money & Rights18 Jun 202612 min

How Music Royalties Work in India: The 6 Income Streams Most Artists Miss

A deep-dive into how music royalties actually work in India in 2026 — streaming, mechanical, performance, neighbouring, sync, and caller tune royalties, plus IPRS/PPL/ISRA membership and tax handling.

Read article
YouTube & Video17 Jun 20269 min

YouTube Content ID Explained: How Indian Artists Monetize Every Fan Upload

A practical explainer on YouTube Content ID for Indian artists — eligibility, how claims work, dispute resolution, territory policies, Shorts monetization, and what to expect in revenue.

Read article
Strategy16 Jun 202611 min

Music Distribution for Independent Artists: The 2026 Playbook

A no-fluff playbook for independent artists in India — how to set up distribution, build pre-save momentum, get on playlists, monetize across platforms, and turn streams into a sustainable income.

Read article
Strategy15 Jun 20269 min

How to Release Music Worldwide From India: 120-Country Playbook

A practical guide to releasing music globally from India — picking territory strategies, navigating regional DSPs (Boomplay, Anghami, KKBOX, Joox), localizing metadata, and managing royalty collection across currencies.

Read article
India-Specific14 Jun 20268 min

Caller Tune (CRBT) Distribution Guide for Indian Artists

How to set your song as a caller tune across Jio Tunes, Airtel Hello Tunes, Vi Callertunes, and BSNL Tunes — including operator differences, royalty math, language strategy, and activation timelines.

Read article
Money & Rights13 Jun 202611 min

Music Copyright Guide for Indian Artists (Copyright Act 1957 + 2026 Practical Guide)

Everything Indian artists need to know about music copyright — the Copyright Act 1957, registering with the Copyright Office, ISRC/UPC, IPRS membership, sound recording vs composition rights, and dispute handling.

Read article