New Fully-Licensed Streaming Service Coda Music Launches

Coda Music, a new, fully licensed, fully catalogued, on-demand premium streaming service that combines social media with streaming, has launched. It promises to “democratize the music discovery process and restore the middle class in music.”

How it works:

• As per its press release, Coda Music is the first and only full-catalog streaming service that allows fans to send $1 of their monthly subscription directly to an independent or qualifying artist of their choice.

• The platform pays independent artists directly with these “per-fan” payments, in addition to the per-stream revenue.

• Coda Music claims to pay the highest per-stream rate in the industry – though their statement doesn’t specify the rate.

• The platform uses an algorithm “curated by the crowd, not the cloud,” with listeners able to engage in communities where they are the influencer sharing their own music taste.

• Coda Music also provides managers, promoters, and rights holders with real-time monitoring and reporting on all artist social activity and catalog performance.

• Artist profiles can be updated on demand, including images, bios and more.

• An Individual Plan is $10.99 per month, and a Family Plan $16.99.

The Spotify exodus:

• Coda Music launches at a time when some performers are fleeing Spotify, largely due to CEO Daniel Ek’s investment in AI military defence company Helsing via his firm Prima Materia.

• Artists to have pulled their music include King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu, with more than 30 Seattle artists recently pledging to do the same.

• Xiu Xiu have publicly supported Coda Music, with the band’s Jamie Stewart stating: “When Xiu Xiu left Spotify to protest their choice to become war profiteers, hundreds of people asked us where they should listen to music. Coda is working to be that place.”

The founders:

• Coda Music was co-founded by Randy Fusee (Chief Executive Officer), Jeff Teles (Chief Technical Officer), Russell Gaskins (Chief Creative Officer) and Ted Andre (Chief Operating Officer).

• The platform has already partnered with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Group, Merlin, Beggars Group, MassiveMusic and more.

What they said:

• Randy Fusee, CEO: “Coda was born from a belief that music deserves better than the copy-paste streaming models we’ve all come to expect. Every major platform runs on the same algorithmic logic – prioritizing profit over artistry, and passive consumption over real connection. We’re rebuilding the middle class of artists and giving fans the power to shape what gets heard. It’s a return to authenticity, driven by community.”