MR. BLINDBANDIT / ARTIST TOOLKIT
Release budget calculator
Estimate a release budget and the revenue needed to recover it.
Build it here
This is a planning estimate. Streaming payments vary by platform, territory, subscription type, rights ownership and distributor terms.
Your information stays with you
Calculations and generated drafts run in this browser. Nothing entered on this page is submitted to the label. Review any output before relying on it.
Explore artist resources ↗About this tool
The release budget calculator adds up the main costs of an independent music release — recording and production, artwork, marketing, distribution and a contingency reserve — and estimates how many streams would be needed to recover that amount at a planning rate you choose.
How to use it
- Enter what you expect to spend in each category. Leave a category at 0 if it does not apply.
- Enter a planning revenue per stream. This is your own estimate; payments vary by platform and country.
- Choose Calculate budget. The total and the approximate number of streams needed are shown.
Screen-reader and keyboard tips
Results appear in a live region, so VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS and TalkBack read the answer as soon as it is ready without moving your focus. Press Tab to move between fields and Shift+Tab to go back. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe right with one finger to move through the form and double-tap to activate a button.
- Each cost field has its own label, so your screen reader announces the category as you move through the form.
- The result is a single sentence you can review with your screen reader’s reading commands.
Ways people use it
- Deciding how much to spend on a single, EP or album.
- Setting realistic expectations before paying for promotion.
- Comparing different spending plans for the same release.
Questions and answers
Why is the stream count only an estimate?
Streaming payments depend on the platform, country, subscription type, rights ownership and distributor terms, and they change over time. The result ignores taxes, fees and splits.
Should I include a contingency reserve?
Many independent artists set aside part of the budget for unexpected costs such as extra mixing or re-uploads.
Privacy
Budget figures are calculated in your browser and not submitted to the label. Read the Privacy Policy for details.
These tools were made by Mr. Blindbandit, a blind musician and screen-reader user, so they are designed to work with a keyboard and screen reader first. Found a problem or have an idea? Email business@mrblindbandit.net or browse all tools.