The discovery platforms
Spotify
Where playlists and algorithmic discovery happen. Pitch unreleased tracks through Spotify for Artists at least four weeks out for a shot at editorial and Release Radar. Not the biggest in India by users, but the most important for getting found by new listeners.
Apple Music
Smaller reach but higher-intent listeners and better per-stream pay. Worth being on; do not build your whole strategy around it.
The mass-audience platforms (India's real scale)
JioSaavn, Gaana, and Wynk
This is where the numbers are, especially outside the metros and in regional languages. If you only chase Spotify you miss most of India's listeners. Confirm your distributor delivers here; not all do equally well.
The earner: YouTube
YouTube and YouTube Music
For most Indian independent artists this is the single biggest source of income, through ad revenue and Content ID claims when others use your music. A video presence and correct Content ID setup often matter more to your bank balance than streaming per-stream rates. Do not treat YouTube as an afterthought.
The discovery driver: Instagram and Reels
Not a streaming platform, but where songs break now. Make sure your distributor delivers your track to the Instagram and Facebook music libraries so people can use it in Reels, one viral Reel does more than any playlist.
Where to actually focus
Being on every platform is automatic through a distributor. Deciding where to spend your energy is the real choice, and it depends on your listeners: regional-language artist, weight JioSaavn and YouTube; English indie aimed at metros and abroad, weight Spotify and Instagram. Before you assume streaming will pay, see what it actually returns in rupees with our royalty calculator, then read how to publish music in India for the full release process.