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# TuneCore payments to artists surpass $2.5B, up 46% from prior year
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/tunecore-has-paid-artists-more-than-2-5-billion/
- Published: 2022-04-26T12:25:00.000Z
- Updated: 2022-04-26T19:03:48.000Z
- Description: Flat fee independent d.i.y. digital music distributor Tunecore announced today that it has paid artists more than $2,5 billion since launching in 2006. In 2021 alone TuneCore paid artists $222. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2022/04/tunecore-has-paid-artists-more-than-2-5-billion.
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: DIY Advice & Tips, Live & Ticketing, music, Music Business, music industry, Music Tech, musician, musicians, Spotify, Tunecore, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 09:48

Flat fee independent d.i.y. digital music distributor Tunecore announced today that it has paid artists more than $2,5 billion since launching in 2006.

In 2021 alone TuneCore paid artists $222 million up 46% from $152 million in 2020, according to an [MBW analysis](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/having-paid-222-to-artists-in-2021-tunecore-has-now-surpassed-total-payouts-of-2-5bn/?ref=hypebot.com) of parent corporation Believe’s financials.

To date, the company’s artists have surpassed 500 billion streams and 700 million downloads.

### Top Indie Genres

Hip-hop is the top earning genre followed by pop, alternative, electronic and rock. Children’s music is also a big earner, led by children’s anthem, “Baby Shark.”

According to MIDiA Research, independent labels and self-releasing artists generated $10 billion and represented 34.7% of the market. Artists without labels represented 5.3% of the market and $1.5 billion out of the $10 billion.

“TuneCore’s mission is to support self-releasing independent artists and provide them with the tools to grow their careers independently.” said **Andreea Gleeson, CEO of TuneCore** “We want music creators to know that TuneCore is where you go to make money and by announcing our artists have earned $2.5 billion, we’re showing receipts. While TuneCore is truly proud of reaching this immense milestone, all credit goes to our incredible artists.”

  
**Bruce Houghton* is Founder and Editor of [Hypebot](https://www.hypebot.com/) and [MusicThinkTank](http://www.musicthinktank.com/?ref=hypebot.com) and serves as a Senior Advisor to [Bandsintown](https://www.bandsintown.com/?ref=hypebot.com) which acquired both publications in 2019\. He is the Founder and President of the[ Skyline Artists Agency](https://skylineonline.com/?ref=hypebot.com) and a professor for the [Berklee College Of Music](https://online.berklee.edu/courses/touring-101?ref=hypebot.com).*