FAQ.
Everything Indian independent artists ask us about music distribution — answered honestly. Can't find your answer? Talk to us.
Music distribution is how your song gets from your studio to Spotify, Apple Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, YouTube Music and 200+ other platforms worldwide. A distributor delivers your audio and metadata to the stores, collects the royalties your streams earn, and pays them to you. You cannot upload directly to Spotify or JioSaavn as an artist — you need a distributor in between.
It depends on the distributor. Some charge a yearly fee per release, some take a percentage of your royalties, and some do both. The Imaginary Records charges no joining fee — you keep up to 85% of the royalties your music earns, and we retain 15% as a service fee.
Usually there is a trade-off. Some "free" distributors take a large cut of your royalties, charge for basic features like Content ID or fast delivery, or make it hard to leave. Always read the terms before uploading. With TIR there is no joining fee and no hidden charges — the split is a flat 85% to you.
We deliver to 200+ platforms worldwide, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk Music, Hungama, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, Napster and iHeartRadio, plus Instagram and Facebook for reels and stories audio.
Every time someone streams your song on a platform, that platform pays a small royalty. Your distributor collects these from all platforms, takes its agreed share, and passes the rest to you. With TIR, you keep up to 85% of net royalties. Statements are available so you can see exactly what each platform paid.
Royalties are paid directly to your Indian bank account once they are available from the platforms. There is no minimum complicated paperwork — you provide your bank details in the portal, and payouts follow the schedule in your distribution agreement. You can track your earnings in the artist portal at any time.
Use the Submit Demo option on our website and send your best 1–3 finished tracks with a short introduction about yourself. We listen to everything. If it's a fit, we'll reach out about distribution; if not, we'll tell you honestly rather than leaving you hanging.
Rejections are almost always fixable — usually artwork issues, metadata typos, or audio problems. We'll tell you exactly what the store flagged and you can correct it and resubmit at no extra cost. This is why we quality-check every release before delivery.
Compare five things: (1) the real cost — fees plus royalty share, (2) payout method — do they pay to Indian banks, and how often, (3) delivery speed, (4) whether you keep your rights and can leave easily, and (5) support — can you reach a human? Be wary of "free forever" offers that take huge royalty cuts or lock you in.
Yes — hip-hop, pop, lo-fi, devotional, folk, film music, anything, in any language: Hindi, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Tamil, English, and beyond. Good music is good music. As a Kashmir-based label we have a special soft spot for Kashmiri artists, but our roster is open to everyone.
Email us at support@theimaginaryrecords.in or call/WhatsApp +91 9541543424. For release-specific questions, artists on the portal can also raise a support ticket from inside their account.
Once your release passes our quality check, delivery to stores takes 24–48 hours. Spotify and most major platforms then need a few days to process and publish it. In practice, submit your release at least 1–2 weeks before your planned release date so everything is live on time.
Indian platforms like JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk and Hungama generally go live within the same window as global stores — a few days after delivery. Timelines vary slightly by platform and by how clean your metadata is, which is why we review every release before sending it out.
Upload a WAV file, 44.1 kHz / 16-bit minimum (24-bit preferred), with your final master — no clipping, no MP3s. Stores transcode everything themselves, so give them the highest quality source you have. Artwork must be a square JPG or PNG, at least 3000×3000 pixels, with no blurry text or social media handles on it.
Cover songs need a licence from the original songwriter or publisher before they can be distributed — releasing one without permission can get your release taken down and your account penalised. If you have the proper licence, we can distribute it. If you're unsure, ask us before uploading.
Changing an artist name after release is messy — stores treat it as a new artist, which splits your profile and playlists. Choose your artist name carefully before your first release. If you must change it, talk to us first and we'll advise on the cleanest way to do it.
Yes. You pick the release date when you submit, and we recommend setting it at least 2–3 weeks out. That gives stores time to go live and gives you time to pitch for Spotify editorial playlists, which require your release to be delivered at least 7 days before release day.
There is no fixed rate — it varies by the listener's plan, country and month. In India, independent artists typically see roughly ₹0.12 to ₹0.25 per stream. One lakh (100,000) Indian streams therefore earns somewhere around ₹12,000–₹25,000 before your distributor's share. Anyone promising an exact per-stream rate is guessing.
Royalty income is taxable in India like any other income. We are not tax advisors, so we recommend speaking to a chartered accountant about how to report it. Keep your royalty statements — the portal gives you a record of everything paid out.
Yes. When you submit a release through the artist portal, you can add collaborators and set each person's percentage split. Royalties are then divided automatically according to the splits you set — no spreadsheets, no arguments later.
An ISRC is a unique code assigned to each individual track, and a UPC (barcode) identifies the whole release. Stores require them to track your streams and sales. You don't need to buy them yourself — we assign ISRC and UPC codes to every release free of charge.
Content ID is YouTube's system that detects when your music is used in other people's videos and lets you earn ad revenue from those uses instead of just blocking them. If someone uploads a video with your song in the background, Content ID can claim it on your behalf and the ad money comes to you through your distributor.
Yes. Distribution is not a record deal — you keep 100% ownership of your masters and your publishing. You are only giving us the right to deliver your music to stores and collect royalties on your behalf, for the term of the agreement.
With TIR, yes. If you decide to move to another distributor, we process a takedown of your releases from our deliveries so you can re-deliver them elsewhere without duplicates or conflicts. Be careful with distributors that make takedowns slow or charge exit fees — ask about this before you sign up anywhere.
Yes, and we tell you upfront: our distribution agreement runs for 6 months per release. During that time we are your exclusive distributor for those tracks. After the term, you are free to renew, move elsewhere, or take your music down. We believe a short, clear term is fairer than the multi-year lock-ins some distributors impose.
Three main differences. First, we are built for Indian artists — INR bank payouts, support in your timezone, and delivery to the Indian platforms that actually matter here (JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk, Hungama). Second, there is no yearly fee; you keep up to 85% instead of paying per release. Third, you deal with a real label team in Kashmir, not a ticket queue on another continent.
Once your first release is live on Spotify through TIR, go to artists.spotify.com and claim your profile. Verification gives you the blue tick, access to playlist pitching, profile customization, analytics, and Canvas visuals. If your song lands on the wrong artist profile, tell us — we file the separation request with Spotify for you.
Yes, but you need a mechanical license for the original composition first — in India this usually means permission from the publisher or via IPRS. Tell us upfront that your release is a cover and we will verify the songwriter credits are correctly listed in your metadata and guide you on the licensing you need before your song goes live.
Stores reject releases for reasons like low-quality artwork, missing credits, misleading artist names, or uncleared samples. If it happens, we tell you exactly what the store flagged, help you fix it, and resubmit — usually at no extra cost. Most rejections are fixed within a day or two.
Yes. You can request a takedown of any release at any time, and you can move your catalog to another distributor — your ISRC codes stay with the recordings, so your stream counts and playlist placements can transfer. Just note the distribution agreement runs in six-month terms, so check your current term dates before switching.
IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society) collects publishing royalties for songwriters and composers — a completely separate income stream from the streaming royalties your distributor pays. If you write your songs, join IPRS and register every track. Many artists double their royalty income just by registering a catalog they already released.
Agree on percentage splits in writing before release — who gets what share of royalties (producer, co-writers, featured artists). Your distributor pays the total to one account, and splits are settled between collaborators. Clear written agreements prevent the disputes that destroy more indie careers than bad music does.
Friday — the industry standard. Spotify's New Music Friday playlists update then and charts track Friday-to-Thursday weeks. More important than the day: give yourself 4–6 weeks of lead time for Spotify editorial pitching (minimum 7 days before release), pre-save campaigns, and press outreach. Never upload the night before.
On YouTube, Content ID (included with TIR distribution) automatically claims unauthorized uploads — you can monetize them or have them blocked. On other platforms, file a DMCA takedown with the platform hosting the content. Keep proof you own the recording (project files, distribution receipts, ISRC registration). Contact us if you need help with a specific case.
Yes — you keep 100% ownership of your masters and compositions. TIR is a distribution and label-services partner, not a rights buyer. We never ask you to assign your copyrights. Your ISRC codes, stream counts, and catalog stay yours even if you leave.
Absolutely — we are a Kashmir-based label and Kashmiri music is core to what we do. We distribute Kashmiri-language songs to all 200+ platforms including JioSaavn, Spotify, and YouTube Music, with correct Kashmiri metadata and lyrics support. Regional music is one of the fastest-growing segments in Indian streaming, and we know this audience better than anyone.
Not always — this is the fine print that matters most. DistroKid charges $4.95/year per single for Content ID and keeps 20% of what it collects. Amuse takes 15% of Content ID revenue. Symphonic keeps 30% of all UGC revenue (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram). When a distributor says "100% royalties," ask specifically: "100% of what?" Streaming royalties and YouTube/Content ID royalties are often treated differently.
It depends entirely on the distributor. DistroKid, TuneCore, Symphonic, and Ditto (Starter) remove your music when you stop paying — unless you bought keep-alive add-ons like DistroKid's Leave a Legacy ($29/single). Amuse, RouteNote, LANDR, and Too Lost keep your music live but take a bigger royalty cut (15–25%). CD Baby never removes anything since you paid a one-time fee. Always read the cancellation terms before you commit your catalog.
Release 5+ songs a year: a yearly subscription (DistroKid $24.99+, Ditto $19+) is cheapest per release. Release 1–2 songs a year: CD Baby's $9.99 one-time fee wins — no subscription to maintain. Releasing occasionally and hate upfront fees: revenue-share plans like RouteNote Free (you keep 85%) cost nothing to start. The break-even between subscription and per-release is roughly 3 singles per year.
More than most artists expect. DistroKid pays via Tipalti ($6 minimum) with a $5.62 fee per bank transfer, ~2% on PayPal, and up to 3% currency conversion. Ditto requires £25 (~$34) minimum. AWAL needs $45. For Indian artists, USD payouts converted to INR lose value twice — once in fees, once in exchange rates. This is why INR direct bank payouts (like TIR offers) can be worth more than a "100% royalties" headline with heavy withdrawal costs.
Spotify requires your track pitched at least 7 days before release — but earlier is significantly better, since editors review thousands of submissions. The professional standard is uploading to your distributor 4 weeks before release day: 24–48 hours for delivery, a few days for stores to process, then 3+ weeks of pitching window plus pre-save campaign time. Never upload the night before and expect playlist placement.
With every major distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, RouteNote, TIR), you keep 100% ownership of your masters — none of them buy your rights. You can switch distributors anytime, and your ISRC codes travel with the recordings so stream counts and playlist placements transfer. Two exceptions to check: Symphonic doesn't allow catalog moves until your contract term ends, and AWAL requires 30 days' exit notice. Never let your old distribution lapse before the new one is live everywhere.
It depends on the platform. TuneCore requires every collaborator to have their own paid account to receive splits. Amuse charges a 15% fee on splits when collaborators aren't subscribers. Symphonic's SplitShare is genuinely free with no collaborator requirements. Before choosing a distributor for a collaboration-heavy project, check the split terms — the wrong choice can cost your collaborators money or lock them out entirely.
TuneCore has the best support reputation among the majors (4.1 on Trustpilot). DistroKid is ticket-and-bot only with frequent complaints about slow template responses. RouteNote is widely reported as slow. Ditto gets the most complaints of any distributor according to industry commentators. Too Lost has a real pattern of account-freeze complaints. For Indian artists, timezone matters too — US-based support sleeps while you're working, which is why an India-based team can resolve urgent release issues faster.
Your distributor pays you for the recording (the "master") — that's distribution royalties. Completely separately, the composition (melody + lyrics) earns publishing royalties whenever it's streamed, broadcast, or performed — collected by societies like IPRS in India, not by your distributor. Most independent artists only collect the first and never see the second, because their songs aren't registered with IPRS. Register your works and you can effectively double your royalty income from the same streams.
All major international distributors deliver to JioSaavn through their store networks — but none of them handle Indian caller tunes (JioTunes, Airtel Hello Tunes), which need separate regional deals. They also don't offer INR billing or Indian bank payouts as standard. If JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk, Hungama, and caller tunes matter to you — and they should for Indian audiences — use a distributor with direct Indian platform relationships rather than hoping the global pipeline covers it.
Still have questions?
Our team replies to every genuine message — usually within a day.