Glossary
DSP
Digital Streaming Platform — any service that delivers music or audio to listeners via the internet, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal.
Definition
DSP stands for Digital Streaming Platform. It refers to any digital service that streams audio content to consumers — most commonly music but also podcasts, audiobooks, and radio. The major music DSPs are Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, Pandora, and Audiomack.
For artists and rights holders, DSPs are the primary revenue channel for recorded music. Each DSP has its own royalty rate, algorithm for surfacing content, and tools for artists to access analytics. Understanding which DSPs your fans use is critical for targeting your promotion.
DSPs differ significantly by region. Spotify dominates in most Western markets, but Gaana and JioSaavn are major players in India, Boomplay is dominant in Africa, and Yandex Music leads in Russia. Artists with global audiences need smart links to serve all of these simultaneously.
Why it matters
Every DSP has a different algorithm, different editorial playlist structure, and different royalty rate. Knowing which DSPs your fans actually use — not which ones you assume they use — helps you prioritize where to pitch playlists and how to set up your smart links.
How Lynkify uses this
Lynkify smart links support 22+ DSPs including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, Audiomack, Boomplay, Anghami, JioSaavn, Gaana, and more. Your Analytics dashboard shows which DSPs your fans prefer by country.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the biggest DSPs for independent artists?
- Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music are the three largest by global reach. Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, and SoundCloud are also significant. Regional platforms like Audiomack (US/Africa), Boomplay (Africa), and JioSaavn (India) are critical for artists in those markets.
- How much do DSPs pay per stream?
- Royalty rates vary by platform. Spotify pays approximately $0.003-0.005 per stream. Apple Music pays approximately $0.007-0.01. Tidal pays approximately $0.013. Rates depend on your distributor deal, listener subscription tier, and territory.