Most artists look at Spotify, then Apple Music. Other platforms are treated as "bonus" — the music ends up there thanks to general distribution, but nobody ever actively thinks about what to do on Amazon Music or Tidal.
Does that make sense? Partly yes. But there are cases where ignoring these platforms is a costly mistake.
Worldwide Distribution: You're Already Doing It
First of all: if you use a distributor like LightSound that covers 100+ stores, your music is already on Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, and the others. You don't need to do anything extra technically. The question is: is it worth investing time in actively managing them?
Amazon Music: Don't Underestimate It
Amazon Music is often the third DSP by number of users, behind Spotify and Apple Music, but in certain markets (especially the US) it's far more relevant than it appears.
Why:
- It's integrated into the Amazon Prime ecosystem → millions of users already have it without actively choosing it
- Alexa and Echo devices use it by default
- It has a significant share of users over 35 who don't use Spotify
Amazon Music for Artists exists but is less developed than Spotify for Artists. You can:
- Claim your profile
- View basic statistics
If your audience is adult or mainstream, Amazon Music deserves attention.
Tidal: Small but Loyal
Tidal has fewer users than Spotify but has a unique characteristic: its audience is highly engaged and quality-oriented. The platform offers HiFi streaming (lossless and Dolby Atmos) and has a strong community of audio enthusiasts.
For artists in certain genres (jazz, classical, R&B, soul, hip-hop with production focus), Tidal can be more relevant than raw stream numbers suggest. The listening quality is different.
Tidal for Artists (TIDAL Rising) is the emerging artist program: if selected, you get editorial placement and visibility in the Tidal community. It's worth claiming your profile and keeping it updated.
Deezer: Strong in France and Emerging Markets
Deezer was long the main Spotify alternative in continental Europe. Today:
- Strong in France, Brazil, Nigeria, and other francophone markets
- Has around 10+ million paid subscribers
- Its algorithm (Flow) is appreciated by loyal users
If you have a French or Brazilian audience, Deezer shouldn't be ignored. Deezer for Creators is the artist dashboard: it lets you view statistics, claim a verified profile, and communicate with fans.
Qobuz: Hi-Res Niche, Small but Rewarding
Qobuz is the reference platform for audiophile audiences who want maximum audio quality (24-bit lossless). It has few users, but they're paying subscribers with high listening intent.
Interesting for classical, jazz, instrumental, and ambient artists. Per-stream royalties tend to be higher than average because subscriptions cost more.
Boomplay, Audiomack, Anghami: Emerging Markets
These regional platforms are growing very rapidly:
| Platform | Main Market | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boomplay | Sub-Saharan Africa | 100M+ users, dominant in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya |
| Audiomack | Africa + African-American diaspora | Strong in hip-hop, afrobeats, reggae |
| Anghami | Middle East and North Africa | Equivalent of Spotify for MENA |
| JioSaavn | India | 100M+ users, dominant in the subcontinent |
For artists with afrobeats, afropop, reggaeton, or dancehall — or any music with global appeal — these markets can generate surprisingly high stream volumes.
The Practical Answer: Yes, but Proportionally
Focus on Spotify and Apple Music for 90% of your time: that's where most of the audience is in most markets.
Add Amazon Music and Tidal if you have a mature or audiophile audience.
Don't ignore regional platforms if your genre or audience has connections to those markets.
Monitor periodically with your analytics dashboard (LightSound shows aggregated data by platform) to discover where you're getting unexpected traction.
Worldwide distribution already puts you everywhere. You can concentrate your active community and promotional work where the numbers tell you something is happening.