How to Distribute Your Music in India for Free in 2026 — Complete Guide

A full step-by-step guide for Indian independent artists to get their music on JioSaavn, Gaana, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and 150+ platforms — ₹0 upfront, no subscription, keeping 100% ownership.

India has over 200 million paid music streaming subscribers — and tens of millions more on free tiers. As an independent artist, getting your music on these platforms is no longer optional. It is the difference between earning royalties and leaving money on the table.

The good news: you do not need a record label or a big budget. With the right music distributor, you can get your music on every major platform in India and worldwide — completely free.

This guide explains exactly what to do, step by step.

What is Music Distribution?

Music distribution is the process of delivering your recorded music to streaming platforms like JioSaavn, Gaana, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music so listeners can find and stream it.

In the old days, physical distribution required a label deal and manufacturing CDs. Today, digital music distribution is done through online distributors who deliver your audio files and metadata to all platforms simultaneously.

As an independent artist, you work directly with a distributor — no label required.

What You Need Before You Start

• Audio file: WAV (preferred) or 320kbps MP3. Make sure it is fully mixed and mastered.
• Album artwork: Square JPG or PNG, minimum 3000×3000 pixels. No blurry images — platforms will reject them.
• Track metadata: Artist name, track name, genre, language, release date — exactly as you want them to appear on platforms.
• Active email address: For approval notifications and royalty updates.
• Google Drive or WeTransfer link: Upload your files and share the link with your distributor.

You do NOT need an ISRC code or UPC barcode — a good distributor assigns these to you for free.

Step-by-Step: How to Distribute Your Music Free in India

Step 1 — Prepare and Master Your Audio

Before distribution, your track must be mixed and mastered to streaming standards. Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music normalize audio to around -14 LUFS. If your track is too quiet or has distortion, it will sound poor on streams.

If you do not have a mixing engineer, Western Beats offers audio production services — including professional mixing and mastering to streaming standards.

Step 2 — Create Your Artwork

Your cover art is the first thing listeners see. Make it square (1:1 ratio) and at least 3000×3000 pixels. Platforms including JioSaavn and Spotify will reject artwork that is too small, blurry, or contains URLs or pricing information.

Keep it clean, brand-consistent, and professional. You can use tools like Canva, Photoshop, or hire a designer.

Step 3 — Upload Files to Google Drive

Upload both your audio file and artwork to Google Drive. Right-click the folder and select "Share" → "Anyone with the link" → "Viewer". Copy the share link — you will need this for submission.

Step 4 — Submit to Western Beats

Visit westernbeats.com/submit and fill in the form. You will need:

• Artist name (exactly as it should appear on platforms)
• Track name
• Genre and language
• Preferred release date (minimum 7 days from submission)
• Singer, lyric writer, music director details
• Your Drive link to audio + artwork
• Your email and phone number for updates

Step 5 — Our Team Reviews in 24 Hours

Western Beats reviews every submission manually within 24 hours. We check audio quality, artwork standards, and metadata for accuracy. If anything needs correction, we contact you immediately.

Step 6 — Go Live on 150+ Platforms

After approval, your music is delivered to all 150+ platforms simultaneously — JioSaavn, Gaana, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Wynk, Hungama, Amazon Music, and more. The music is typically live within 72 hours.

You will receive free ISRC codes and a UPC barcode for your release, which you can use forever.

Which Platforms Will My Music Be On?

Western Beats delivers to 150+ platforms including all the major Indian and global streaming services:

• India: JioSaavn, Gaana, Wynk Music, Hungama, Resso, JioPhone Next
• Global: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora
• Caller Tunes: Jio Caller Tune, Airtel Hello Tune, Vi Hello Tune (CRBT)
• Video: YouTube Content ID

How Much Does It Cost?

With Western Beats — nothing. Zero rupees upfront. No annual subscription. No per-release fee. Western Beats earns only when you earn, through a revenue share model. This means your success is aligned with ours.

Compare this to DistroKid ($22.99/year, ~₹1,900/year), TuneCore (₹1,599+/year), or CD Baby ($9.99/release + 9% royalty cut). Western Beats is the only major distributor offering completely free distribution for Indian artists.

Do I Keep Ownership?

Yes, always. Western Beats never takes ownership of your music or masters. You own 100% of your recordings and compositions. You can leave at any time, take your music with you, and Western Beats has no claim on your catalogue.

Frequently Asked Questions