Music distribution guidesGuides for independent artists and labels in India.

Straight answers on the things that decide how much you earn and how far your music travels: releasing on Spotify and JioSaavn, caller tunes, royalties, YouTube, playlists and running a label. Written plainly, updated as the rules change.

Releasing music

01How to distribute music in India: the complete 2026 guideMusic distribution gets your song onto Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, JioSaavn and Gaana, and collects the royalties they owe you. Here is the full process, the platforms that actually matter in India now, and how caller tune delivery works.8 minute read 10How to release music on JioSaavn and Gaana in IndiaJioSaavn and Gaana are the two domestic streaming platforms still operating in India, and they matter for regional discovery. Here is how your music reaches them, how caller tunes connect, and what to expect.5 minute read 13How to upload a song on Spotify from India (2026 guide)Spotify does not let artists upload songs directly; every song reaches Spotify through a distributor or a label. From India that means choosing a distributor, uploading a WAV master and a 3000 x 3000 cover, and setting a release date two to four weeks out. With SUF Digitals it costs from Rs 999 a year and you keep 80% to 95% of royalties.8 minute read 14How to add your own song to Instagram Reels music (India)You cannot upload your own song to Instagram's music library yourself. It gets there when a distributor delivers your release to Meta, which runs the music library for Instagram and Facebook. With SUF Digitals, Instagram and Facebook are part of every release, and once Meta has processed it anyone can add your song to Reels and Stories.6 minute read

Caller tunes

03How to set a song as a caller tune in India (Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL)What caller ring back tones (CRBT) are, how your fans set your song on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL, why they are one of the biggest earners for regional and devotional music, and how you get paid.8 minute read 21JioTunes for artists: how to get your song on JioTunesArtists cannot upload a song to JioTunes themselves. A song becomes available as a JioTune when a distributor delivers it to Jio's caller tune system alongside the streaming release. Since August 2026, Jio users can set a JioTune in a few taps from JioSaavn or MyJio, and every Jio user gets one free JioTune every 30 days.6 minute read

Royalties and money

02How music royalties work in India: a straight answerHow streaming, caller tune, and publishing royalties actually reach an Indian artist: who pays who, how long it takes, and what TDS and GST mean for your payout. Written plainly, with the parts most guides skip.7 minute read 04IPRS registration, explainedIf you write or compose music in India, IPRS membership is how your publishing royalties actually reach you. Here is what it is, who should join, and how the process works.6 minute read 15How much does Spotify pay per stream in India? (2026)Spotify does not pay a fixed amount per stream. It shares a pool of revenue in each country by each rights holder's share of streams, so a stream from India earns far less than one from the US. Public estimates put an Indian stream at around 6 to 7 paise (about $0.0008), while premium streams in richer markets pay several times more.7 minute read

YouTube

05Getting your YouTube Official Artist ChannelAn Official Artist Channel merges your presence on YouTube into one verified home: your releases, your videos, and your subscribers in a single place with a music note badge.5 minute read

Playlists and promotion

11Spotify editorial pitching from India: the 7-day rule, explainedGetting on a Spotify editorial playlist starts before your song is out. The single most important rule is to pitch at least 7 days ahead through Spotify for Artists. Here is how the process works and how to give yourself the best shot.6 minute read

Labels

17How to start a music label in India: a practical 2026 guideStarting a music label in India takes five things: a name you can protect, a business with a PAN and a bank account, written agreements with your artists, a distributor that releases under your label name, and a clean way to pay royalties. You can release your first song under your own label within weeks, and the paperwork can grow with you.9 minute read

Release essentials

06Releasing your music in Dolby AtmosAtmos is not a louder stereo. It is a different delivery of your song: objects placed in space, mixed for the platforms that now feature spatial audio prominently.5 minute read 09ISRC and UPC explained: what every Indian artist needs to knowAn ISRC identifies a recording; a UPC identifies a release. They are how platforms track your streams and pay you correctly, and how you keep your history when you switch distributors. Here is what they are and why they matter.6 minute read 22How to switch music distributors in India without losing streamsYou can switch distributors without losing your streams, playlist placements or play counts, as long as the new delivery uses the same audio, the same ISRC codes and the original release date, and the old delivery comes down only after the new one is live. Here is the order that keeps your history intact.6 minute read

Comparisons

07SUF Digitals vs DistroKid: which fits an Indian artist in 2026DistroKid is a strong global distributor with unlimited uploads and USD billing. SUF Digitals is built for India, with rupee payouts and caller tune delivery. Here is an honest, side-by-side look at where each one fits.7 minute read 08SUF Digitals vs TuneCore: an honest 2026 comparison for IndiaTuneCore offers solid global distribution with INR pricing options and Content ID, but no caller tunes and a 20 percent cut on social monetization. SUF Digitals is India-first with caller tune delivery. Here is where each one fits.7 minute read 12Best music distribution company in India: how to choose in 2026The best music distribution company in India is the one that lets you keep the most money from where your listeners actually are. For most Indian artists that means rupee pricing and payouts, caller tunes on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL, YouTube Content ID, JioSaavn delivery, and no catalogue removal if you stop paying. This guide compares the main options on exactly those points.9 minute read 16DistroKid alternatives for Indian artists (2026)DistroKid is a strong global distributor, but Indian artists often look elsewhere for three reasons: it bills in US dollars, it does not deliver caller tunes on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL, and releases come down if you stop renewing. Here is what to compare, and how the main alternatives differ.7 minute read

Hindi guides

18Gana kaise upload kare: Spotify, JioSaavn aur YouTube Music par apna gana release kareinApna gana Spotify, JioSaavn, YouTube Music, Apple Music ya Instagram par seedha upload nahi hota. Gaana in sab apps tak ek music distributor ke through pahunchta hai. SUF Digitals ke saath plan Rs 999 saal se shuru hota hai, aap 80% se 95% royalty rakhte hain, aur Jio, Airtel, Vi aur BSNL par caller tune bhi har plan mein milti hai.7 minute read 19Spotify par gana kaise upload kare (2026): poora tarika Hindi meinSpotify par gana seedha upload nahi hota, har gana kisi distributor ke through Spotify tak pahunchta hai. Aapko ek WAV file, 3000 x 3000 ka cover aur 2 se 4 hafte baad ki release date chahiye. SUF Digitals ke saath ye Rs 999 saal se shuru hota hai aur aap 80% se 95% royalty rakhte hain.6 minute read 20Apne gaane ko caller tune kaise banaye: Jio, Airtel, Vi aur BSNLApne gaane ko caller tune banane ke liye gana kisi aise distributor se release kijiye jo Jio, Airtel, Vi aur BSNL tak caller tune pahunchata ho. SUF Digitals har plan mein, Rs 999 saal se, chaaron networks par caller tune deta hai. Gana stores par live hone ke kuch din baad telecom caller tune chalu kar dete hain, aur fans use apne phone par set kar sakte hain.6 minute read

Ready to release?

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