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As an independent artist, your streaming money reaches you in two hops: streaming platforms pay your distributor, and your distributor pays you into your bank account. Understanding the timing, the payout methods, and the fees in between explains why money arrives later than you'd expect and how to keep more of it.
For the bigger picture of where the money comes from, see how streaming platforms pay artists.
The payout timeline
- Listeners stream your song this month.
- Platforms report and pay your distributor about 1–3 months later (streaming money is always delayed).
- Your distributor credits your earnings dashboard.
- You withdraw to your bank, or the distributor pays out on its schedule.
So earnings from a January stream might land in your account around March–April. Plan around that lag.
How distributors pay you in India
- Bank transfer to an Indian account — the cleanest option; paid in rupees with a rupee-billing distributor like Grootin, avoiding forex conversion.
- USD-based payouts — distributors that pay in dollars cost you a conversion fee and exchange-rate risk.
- Minimum payout thresholds — many distributors only release money once you cross a minimum balance, so small earnings accrue until then.
What eats into your payout
Three things: your distributor's royalty share or split, forex fees on dollar payouts, and any withdrawal/transfer fees. A note on tax: royalty income is taxable and TDS may apply — see tax on music royalties in India. Choosing a rupee-native distributor that keeps a high royalty share is the simplest way to maximise what actually reaches your bank. Compare options in our distributor comparison.