Selling out: Places to sell your music online

Independent bands can sell music directly from their websites, but they'll get more exposure if they sell through a musicians' community or a mainstream CD retailing website.

Here's a list of places where you can sell your music or promote it online. The deals vary from site to site. Read the small print. Inclusion in this list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation, although I have tried to add sites that already have some momentum and value. See also my guide to selling music on Amazon MP3 and iTunes.

When I released my album of electronic music Artificial, I used Distrokid, which uses a lot of automation to significantly cut the cost of distribution, compared to other leading platforms. I'm happy to recommend them, and they've got my music into Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, TIDAL, Napster and most other places you can play music. It was a smooth process with highly granular reporting. If you use my sign-up link for Distrokid you'll save 7%.

You can discover more tips for home musicians here and read my articles about music promotion here. Go undercover in the music business with my novel Earworm!

Online music distributors directory

How was it for you?

I'd be interested in hearing about your experiences with any of these sites, or any others you've used to promote your music. Contact me.

Earworm: A hilarious satire of the music industry

My novel 'Earworm' satirises the music industry and predicts its potential meltdown. The book is named after the band at the centre of the action and takes a slice through the music industry: from the boardroom to the stage; from the studio to the record fair. It explores how fans relate to their favourite bands, how businesses use technology to manipulate consumers, and what would happen if the music industry disappeared overnight.

Although the novel includes fictionalised cameos from some well-known pop stars, the story focuses on those who are at the bottom of the industry and trying to claw their way up.

• Visit the Earworm homepage
• Order the book (print book and ebook available)