Snapchat to pay DistroKid artists $100,000 for top-performing songs

Snapchat has launched a Sounds Creator Fund designed to recognize emerging, independent artists that drive video on the platform, but it comes with a serious caveat:

The music must be distributed by DistroKid.

The artists must also be based in the U.S. and age 16+ and, where applicable, have parental consent.

The program is capped at 20 songs which will each receive up to $5,000, based on the level of engagement Snapchat users have with the music.

“We want to support the independent and emerging artists that are driving creation on Snapchat,” said Ted Suh, Global Head of Music Partnerships at Snap. “By providing meaningful funding and creative support, our goal is for artists to feel empowered to continue creating and pursue a career in music.”

Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Merlin, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell and Kobalt artist paid pursuant to separate agreements with Snapchat.

Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music.