Divvy Music: Where Streaming Meets the Indie Record Store Experience
June 26, 2025: Hi, I’m Melissa. I’m the founder of Divvy Music, a social enterprise that’s reimagining music streaming to support independent artists and local music communities.
A social enterprise means we’re a business built to create impact, not just income. We use commercial tools, but our bottom line is about supporting artists—not profiting off them. We don’t succeed unless indie musicians do.
Beyond offering the expected revenue share per stream, we’ve designed new ways for artists to earn in multiple ways—from getting paid for promoting their own music (something they’re already doing) to receiving compensation for bringing new users to the platform through their music links. We’re also committed to paying artists for live performances at our micro-events, sponsoring their events, and supporting community shows. These aren’t side perks—they’re built into the model. This is how Divvy grows together with our artists.
We’re still in development because we need the cash to finish the app. The vendor is ready to pull the trigger as soon as we are. In the meantime, we’ve built a strong foundation: we’ve completed an intense startup accelerator program, assembled a committed advisory board, conducted extensive market research, and developed both a solid business plan and a doable app design. We've also established relationships with aligned brands, vendors, and mission-driven investors who truly get it.
While those investors respect what we’re doing, respect doesn’t always mean funding.
The reality is, Divvy doesn’t fit the typical startup mold. Our mission is our model: our streaming app will give users a feature-rich listening experience and the peace of mind that their money is being reinvested in the artists and causes they care about. Every stream, event, and interaction is designed to strengthen the indie community.
All of this is hard to plug into conventional investment templates—especially without a beta version of the app in hand. The investors weren’t wrong to say no; it’s simply not the right time in the process for them to jump in. And maybe we won’t even need them.
Once the platform is built, we’ll move toward equity crowdfunding—so artists and fans can own a piece of what they’re helping to shape, for as little as $100. We’d do that now, but legally, we can’t offer equity until the app is complete.
That’s why we’re amplifying our crowdfunding efforts—raising not just funds, but awareness among the community that believes this model should exist. The goal is bigger. The stakes are higher. And the time is now.
Independent musicians deserve more than passive streams, they need active opportunities, and they need them now. Divvy Music was born from that belief and the idea that a streaming platform and the artists that make it run can grow their audiences together.
Our model goes beyond streaming. We’re creating a hybrid experience that blends digital discovery with real-world connection: live events, curated playlists, community engagement, nonprofit donation matches tied to artists’ hometowns, and artist-driven campaigns.
Every dollar donated here gets us closer to having the finished design ready for the beta test. It’s also one less dollar we have to pay back. We’d rather pay it forward with innovative, sustainable revenue streams for indie musicians.
Together, we can build a future where music is more than just content, it’s community, creativity, and shared ownership.
And if you're wondering why Divvy exists—or what it’s built on—start with the stories.
🎧 Streams of Thought is our new blog series sharing raw, unfiltered perspectives from musicians and industry insiders. These are the conversations that clarified our purpose and why we’re doing things differently.
Read them. Share them.
Or email us and we will tell YOUR STORY too.
Let’s build something that stays true to the people it’s for.
Got questions? Visit www.divvy.music.com or contact us here.
