DSP (Digital Service Provider)
Category: Music Business
What is DSP (Digital Service Provider)?
A streaming or download platform that licenses music and pays royalties, such as Spotify, Apple Music, or Deezer.
DSP (Digital Service Provider) explained
DSP stands for digital service provider and is the industry term for the platforms that license and stream recorded music. Distributors deliver releases to DSPs, and each one has its own metadata rules, delivery lead times, and editorial processes. SoundCloud sits slightly outside the usual grouping because it is both a hosting community where anyone can upload instantly and a licensed platform with monetisation for eligible accounts. That dual nature is useful in practice: a track can live and build an audience on SoundCloud while a coordinated DSP release is prepared behind it.
Why DSP (Digital Service Provider) matters for independent artists
Understanding DSP (Digital Service Provider) helps you make better promotion decisions on SoundCloud and other streaming platforms. On Reposter Network, artists apply concepts like this every day when they trade real plays, likes and reposts with other musicians instead of buying fake engagement.
Related terms
- Music Distribution: Music distribution delivers your music to streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud, making it available worldwide.
- ISRC Code: The unique identifier assigned to a recording so plays and royalties can be tracked across every platform.
- Eligible Stream: A play that passes a platform's integrity checks and therefore counts toward monetization and payouts.
Read more
Browse the full music marketing glossary or read the guide on SoundCloud repost networks.