Why Coda Music Is Rewriting the Rules of Streaming - For Artists and Fans Alike

For years, music streaming has promised access, convenience, and discovery. But behind the playlists and algorithms lies a harsh reality: the very platforms that brought music to the masses have quietly hollowed out the middle class of artists who make it. Fans want to support their favorite musicians. Artists are calling for change. And until now, there’s been nowhere to turn. Want to leave Spotify? Great, where are you going to go, Apple? Amazon? There is nowhere to go if you want to REALLY support artists without giving up the convenience of streaming. Until now.

Industry-Leading Per Stream Payouts — But That’s Just the Beginning

Coda Music pays the highest per-stream rate in the industry - higher than Tidal, Qobuz, and any other full-catalog streaming service. It’s a distinction worth noting, especially in a market where fans and artists often use per-stream payouts as shorthand for artist-friendliness.

But here’s the truth: every major streaming platform pays out the same percentage of revenue for the rights to sell streaming subscriptions. The differences in per-stream rates are largely a function of scale and stream volume - not policy. So while we’re proud to lead on this metric, we also believe it’s the wrong metric to focus on.

The real problem isn’t how much is paid per stream, it’s that streaming alone doesn’t pay enough. And minor improvements to a fundamentally flawed per stream model will not help. That’s why Coda Music introduces something entirely new: a direct “per fan” payment that exists alongside traditional streaming royalties, giving artists a meaningful new source of income.

Introducing the “Per Fan” Model: Direct Support, No Extra Cost

Coda Music is the first and only full-catalog streaming service that empowers fans to send $1 of their monthly subscription directly to an independent or qualifying artist of their choice. No tipping. No upsells. No extra fees.

Just real support - built into the platform.

This means fans can finally take control of where their money goes. Today, your subscription dollars are distributed to the biggest stars whether you stream them or not. With Coda, you can redirect a portion of your monthly fee to the artists who matter most to you. It’s a new kind of relationship between fan and artist — one rooted in agency, transparency, and impact.

Better for Artists. Better for Fans. And Still Cheaper Than Spotify.

Spotify recently raised its monthly subscription price to $11.99. Coda Music remains at $10.99 and includes a $1 independent artist contribution from our own margins. That’s not just a better deal. It’s a better philosophy.

We are re-investing in the art of music and the people who make it.

Our Mission: Rebuilding the Artist Middle Class

Streaming has decimated the middle class of musicians. Coda Music exists to rebuild it. By giving fans a way to support artists directly, without changing their spending habits, we are creating a new ecosystem where sustainability and creativity can thrive.

There are only a handful of full-catalog streaming services in North America and the biggest ones are run by tech giants that only care about their own bottom line. Every one of them, big and small, pays artists in exactly the same way. Coda Music stands alone in our commitment to supporting independent artists while still providing fans with convenience and access to the global catalog of music.