The newly launched, fully licensed, streaming/social platform seeks to be the home for artists and listeners
Coda Music is a new, disruptive platform that sets out to redefine how fans connect with artists and discover music. The first fully licensed, fully catalogued, on-demand premium streaming platform to emerge in almost a decade, and the first to be seamlessly built on a social network, Coda Music seeks to transparently democratize the music discovery process and restore the middle class in music. The platform has launched in the US and Canada with plans to expand into Europe and Asia in 2026.
Coda Music isn’t just a platform — it’s a movement built with artists, for artists, and supported by fans who care about music and the people who make it. Some of the core values of Coda Music include the belief that people recommend music to other people better than algorithms do, human beings create better music than AI does, and that artists deserve significantly better compensation for their talent.
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).
Spotify pools all the revenue generated from subscriptions and advertising each month. It then generally takes about 30% for itself and allocates the remaining 70% to rights holders, which are typically the record labels. Artists generally receive an estimated $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, on average. This estimated rate means that one million streams would typically generate between $3,000 and $5,000 in royalties, before all other parties take their cut.
Coda has a different model and has penned an open letter to artists ready to leave Spotify and be paid fairly.
“To every artist who’s ever felt invisible, underpaid, or disillusioned by a system that treats your music like background noise: We see you. We hear you. And we built Coda Music for you,” they write.
“In recent months, a wave of respected acts have pulled their music from Spotify. Deerhoof declared, ‘We don’t want our music killing people.’ Xiu Xiu called Spotify a ‘garbage hole violent armageddon portal.’ King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard urged fans to ‘put pressure on these Dr. Evil tech bros to do better.’ Massive Attack, Sylvan Esso, and others have joined the exodus. And in cities like Chicago and Seattle, petitions are circulating among local musicians demanding ethical alternatives and calling for collective action. This isn’t just a backlash. This is the start of a movement. If you are ready to leave Spotify, Coda Music is here to support you.”
Coda Music has a FanDirect program that empowers fans to send $1 of their monthly subscription to an artist of their choice. This money is in addition to standard streaming royalties. The fan payment is not a tip. Artists should not have to ask for tips to get paid fairly, and fans should not have to spend more money to support artists. Artists on Coda can earn anywhere from 10x to 100x what they currently earn on streams alone.
Coda will provide artists with access to the data that is needed to target fans, promote themselves, and get discovered – for free. “We are here to support you and help you grow your career and maximize your earnings, not to earn money for ourselves, preying on your desire to be seen and heard. Everyone is equal here,” they share.
Coda combines social media with a fully cataloged music streaming service. Their social has no shadow banning, no “pay to boost” your posts, and no shady algorithms that are designed to suppress artists and their careers. “On Coda, your connection with your fans is unrestricted. When you choose to engage, your posts are sent to all of your followers, every time.”
Playlists aren’t bought on Coda. They are built by fans and artists. Its curation engine is powered by people, not money. “Pay to Playlist” does not exist at Coda. “Your music rises because it resonates, not because someone paid for a placement.”
“We know leaving Spotify can feel like a leap. You have support waiting for you at Coda Music should you decide it’s time to take a stand. Coda does not invest in war – we invest in you,” they conclude. “Sign up is free. We can create a better future together.”
