Breaking Free from DSPs: How Artists Like GloRilla Are Redefining Success

In today’s music world, it’s clear: relying solely on Digital Service Providers (DSPs) like Spotify, Apple Music, and TIDAL won’t cut it if you’re aiming for long-term success. Sure, DSPs make it easy to share your music with a global audience. One click, and your tracks are out there. But here’s the truth—they’re not built to secure your financial future.

Let’s break it down. For every stream, artists earn a fraction of a penny. That means even with a hit song, you’re looking at millions of streams just to scrape together a living. Add shrinking payouts, the decline of physical album sales, and DSPs hoarding fan data, and it’s no wonder why more artists are ditching the middlemen. Instead, they’re building their own distribution models, keeping the profits, and connecting directly with fans.

Take GloRilla, for example. She’s setting a new standard. When she dropped her debut album, Glorious, she bypassed DSPs altogether, choosing a direct-to-fan model. Her move isn’t just bold—it’s brilliant.

The Downside of DSPs

Let’s be real. While DSPs open doors, they come with some serious baggage:

• Low Payouts: A fraction of a penny per stream means you need astronomical numbers to see real money. Even viral hits don’t guarantee financial security.

• Limited Fan Data: DSPs keep fan info locked up, making it nearly impossible for artists to connect with their audience directly. If you can’t control your fanbase, you can’t control your growth.

• Overcrowded Space: With thousands of new tracks uploaded daily, it’s tough to stand out unless you have a massive budget or a viral moment.

It’s these hurdles that push artists like GloRilla to think bigger and take back control.

GloRilla’s Blueprint: Direct-to-Fan Success

With Glorious, GloRilla flipped the script and showed us what independence looks like:

• Direct Sales: By selling digital downloads straight from her website, she skipped the middlemen, letting fans support her directly.

• Better Revenue Retention: No splits with DSPs or platforms—more money goes where it belongs: her pocket.

• Stronger Fan Connection: Selling directly lets her build deeper relationships with fans, owning every interaction on her terms.

Fans didn’t just stream Glorious—they bought it, right from GloRilla’s shop, creating a tighter bond while giving her more control.

The Lesson of MySpace: Own Your Space

Remember MySpace? Back in the day, artists built massive followings there. But when the platform faded, those fanbases disappeared overnight. It was a hard lesson: if you don’t own your platform, you don’t own your future.

Fast forward to today, and the same rule applies. Artists relying only on DSPs are taking the same risk. Building your own space—a website, an app, or even a private platform—puts you in control. It’s your audience, your rules, your future.

The TIDAL Model: Control is King

GloRilla’s move mirrors what Jay-Z did with TIDAL. Exclusive content encouraged fans to subscribe and engage directly with artists. It’s a powerful reminder: when artists own their distribution, they control the conversation—and the revenue.

The Future of Music Distribution

The game is changing, and artists are rewriting the rules. Here’s how:

1. Direct-to-Consumer Platforms: Personal websites or apps let artists sell music, merch, and offer exclusive experiences directly to fans.

2. Blockchain & NFTs: These technologies let fans own unique pieces of music or merch, opening up new ways to support artists.

3. Subscription Models: Tiered memberships with exclusive content and early releases create loyal, close-knit fan communities.

These strategies aren’t just workarounds—they’re power moves. Artists are reclaiming control over their careers, building deeper fan relationships, and keeping more of what they earn.

GloRilla’s Statement of Independence

GloRilla’s Glorious isn’t just an album; it’s a declaration of independence. It proves that with the right strategy, artists can bypass the mainstream, connect directly with fans, and thrive on their own terms.

Her success is a glimpse into the future—a future where artists hold the reins, build their own empires, and keep the power right where it belongs: in their hands.

What’s your take? Are direct-to-fan models the future? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to PowerPlay Blog for more insights on making the ultimate power moves in the music industry.