Can Musicians Deduct Streaming Platform Distribution Fees?

Yes — fees paid to distribute your music to streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube are deductible business expenses, since they're a direct cost of getting your work in front of paying listeners and generating income. Whether you use a distribution service that charges a flat annual fee, a per-release fee, or takes a percentage of your streaming royalties, that cost is an ordinary business expense tied directly to income you're earning as a musician. This applies whether...