TuneCore’s independent artists surpass a total of $5 Billion in earnings

One of the leading independent artist development platforms announced that artists who distribute through TuneCore have now earned over $5 billion since the company’s founding nearly 20 years ago, marking a historic milestone and the first public achievement of its kind among distributors for self-releasing artists.

Mumbai, 13^th November 2025: TuneCore, one of the leading development partners for self-releasing artists, owned by Paris-based Believe, one of the world’s leading music companies, today announced that independent artists using the platform have collectively earned more than $5 billion since the company’s founding in 2006. This marks a historic milestone and the first public achievement of its kind among distributors for self-releasing artists.

Founded nearly two decades ago with a mission to democratize music distribution for self-releasing artists, TuneCore has evolved into a global powerhouse for independent artist development, offering artists solutions to monetize their music, find and grow their fanbases while building sustainable careers on their own terms.

Andreea Gleeson, Chief Executive Officer, TuneCore commented, “Crossing $5 billion earned by TuneCore artists is a defining milestone for independent music—it shows that creative freedom and financial success can go hand in hand. Reaching this milestone didn’t just happen; it’s the result of listening closely to what artists need today and evolving TuneCore to power their growth. By combining innovation with intention, we’ve built programs like TuneCore Accelerator to help artists reach new audiences, and publishing services that ensure they collect every cent their music generates. This milestone reflects the extraordinary talent and drive of our artists around the world, and we’re proud to be the partner helping to fuel their success.”

Surpassing the $5 billion milestone reflects the cumulative earnings of all TuneCore artists since 2006—including bedroom producers, emerging voices, and global stars alike—and comes just 17 months after surpassing the $4 billion mark, showcasing record-breaking momentum and accelerating artist success across every genre and market.

TuneCore’s success is powered by Believe’s direct relationships with digital service providers and streaming platforms worldwide, as well as TuneCore Accelerator, the company’s flagship artist development platform. Accelerator provides artists with access to promotional and marketing opportunities designed to drive discovery, build audiences, and deepen fan engagement. In just the past year, artists in the program have generated over 21 billion new streams, sparked 2.5 billion artist discoveries, and seen their median royalties grow fivefold. Together, these initiatives highlight TuneCore’s dedication to putting artists first—fueling global growth and establishing one of the most significant publicly shared milestones in the history of self-releasing artist distribution.

At the core of TuneCore’s success—and the success of its artists—is a steadfast, shared passion for independence, innovation, and experimentation. California rapper Mike Sherm has become a phenomenon as a result of that same passion, building a loyal following in the early 2010s on SoundCloud and YouTube before joining TuneCore in 2015 to take his career further. Over the last decade, his popularity has skyrocketed, with tracks like “Cookies”, “A-Hole,” “Baby,” and more amassing hundreds of millions of streams and establishing him as one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most influential independent artists.

India Case Study: Tyson Sidhu

Rising Punjabi music sensation singer, lyricist, and composer Tyson Sidhu is renowned for his emotional depth, energetic vocals, and fusion of indie‑pop and Punjabi folk elements. Tyson burst onto the scene with his debut single in 2017 and has built a distinctive repertoire combining heartfelt lyrics with strong performance energy, earning a dedicated fanbase across India and abroad. He joined TuneCore as an independent artist in 2021 and has continued to grow his audience by steadily releasing singles like “Hustle,” “Skills,” “Diff.” and more, each amassing millions of streams and further increasing his following.

Tyson Sidhu commented, “I’ve been releasing music independently for 3-4 years now. As an independent artist, you can make all the music you want and easily upload through TuneCore. Congrats to all the TuneCore artists for hitting the 5 Billion landmark!”

Speaking about the landmark from the perspective of Indian artists, Akhila Shankar, Head of TuneCore South Asia said, “This achievement of $5 Billion earned by independent artists marks a powerful milestone for musicians worldwide. It shows what is possible when artists take control of their journey and their music. In India, this is a particularly special moment as it coincides with TuneCore’s 5 year anniversary in the region. India is now TuneCore’s third largest market globally by volume, driven by a new wave of artists shaping what it means to be South Asian through their own language, sounds and stories. Our role is to strengthen this momentum by giving artists throughout India the tools, data and local support to grow on their own terms”.

“The future of music is independent,” added Gleeson. “At TuneCore, we’re not just celebrating earnings—we’re celebrating empowerment, creativity, and the artists who are rewriting the rules of the industry.”

With artists spanning every continent and career stage, TuneCore continues to redefine what’s possible for self-releasing musicians. From emerging creators finding their first fans to established artists scaling global success, TuneCore provides a clear path toward artistic freedom and financial independence.