![\"music](\"https:\/\/www.digitalmusicnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tidal-offers-direct-to-fan-downloads-with-90-10-split-to-compete-with-bandcamp-1024x576.png\" "\\"music\\"")
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Photo Credit: Tidal<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Music Tidal adds direct-to-fan album downloads with a 90\/10 split, bypassing traditional distributors and putting the platform in direct competition with Bandcamp.<\/h2>\n
Music streaming platform Tidal now allows independent artists to sell digital downloads directly to fans,<\/a> bypassing the traditional distribution route at a flat 10% fee\u2014and coming directly for Bandcamp\u2019s lunch. Most digital service providers (DSP) pay pennies per stream, but taking a direct-to-fans (D2F) sales approach offers a much more appealing option, especially for smaller or independent artists.<\/p>\n \u201cArtists in the US can now sell their music on Tidal! Upload an album, set a price, and sell directly to your fans. Listeners can download the highest quality files to their device or play within the Tidal app. No subscription required,\u201d wrote<\/a> Tidal\u2019s RSA on the former Twitter.<\/p>\n The move puts Tidal in direct competition with artist-first platforms like Bandcamp, which offer a one-stop-shop where fans can discover and immediately support an artist without ever leaving the app.<\/p>\n The feature is available<\/a> for artists in the United States. It\u2019s integrated through the Tidal Upload dashboard, and artists can track transactions in real time and initiate instant payouts. All sales are managed via a connected Stripe account.<\/p>\n Artists set the price they want for their Paid Uploads and retain 90% of all sales. Tidal also states that you must own 100% of the rights to the recording and underlying composition; no uncleared samples or covers without licenses will be permitted.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a welcome development for the platform, which isn\u2019t quite running with the big dogs in the world of streaming. But as more of the middle-lane music streamers look to diversify their income beyond algorithms<\/a> and playlists, it\u2019s a smart move to draw the attention of smaller or independent artists, as well as their devoted fans.<\/p>\n<\/section><\/div>\nTidal takes a 10% fee in the process, leaving 90% of the album\u2019s income for the artist\u2014minus standard payment processing fees, of course. By contrast, Bandcamp<\/a> charges artists a 15% revenue share fee on digital downloads, which drops to 10% once an artist reaches $5,000 in sales in a 12-month period. Notably, both platforms charge payment processing fees.<\/h4>\n