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You’ve written some songs and are excited to share them. Great job!
But, you might be thinking how do you distribute your music to different streaming platforms, and which service should you opt for?
No worries! I’m here to help you, and I believe you’ll have all your questions answered by the end.
Before discussing today’s choice, let’s talk about what digital distribution is and why it’s important.
Rise of Streaming Platforms
Before Streaming:
- Used physical distribution services to print and distribute music.
- Independent artists often had a box of CDs lying around.
- Major labels handled distribution for signed artists.
- Independent artists needed physical distributors to get music into stores (e.g., HMV).
With the Rise of Streaming:
- Music distribution shifted to digital platforms.
- Independent artists can now use digital distributors to reach streaming services.
- Digital distributors act as intermediaries between artists and platforms like Apple Music and Spotify.
Current State:
- Many digital distribution options are available.
- Not all digital distributors are the same; quality and services vary.
- The music distribution landscape continues to evolve.
How Does DistroKid Work?
| Feature | Description |
| Basic Function | Upload music and album artwork to DistroKid. They distribute it to streaming platforms and collect royalties for you. |
| Streaming Platforms | DistroKid can send your music to platforms like TikTok, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. |
| Payment | DistroKid pays you for the streaming royalties your music earns. |
| Fee Structure | Flat annual fee for unlimited releases. |
| Popularity | Popular with artists who release a lot of music because of the unlimited model. |
| Pricing Changes | Pricing has increased over the years but still operates on a subscription-based model. |
| Lifetime Option | For an extra fee, you can pay a flat rate to have your music on platforms for life, even if your subscription lapses. |
User Experience and Functionality
| Feature | Description |
| Site Design | Simple and easy to use. |
| Uploading Tracks | Quick process with simple forms, checkboxes, and prompts. Good for first-time uploaders. |
| Track Delivery | Fast delivery to over 100 streaming platforms. Tracks often appear much quicker than the recommended 2 weeks. |
| Release Scheduling | You can schedule releases in advance. Tracks may show up earlier but are not live until your chosen release date. |
| Pitching to Spotify | Even before the official release, you can pitch your song to Spotify’s editorial playlists through Spotify for Artists. |
| Cover Song Licenses | DistroKid secures licenses for cover songs and ensures original songwriters are paid. This is often a complex process. |
| Cover Song Success | Covering popular songs can help build a fanbase. Example: A cover of “Tainted Love” has almost 1,000,000 streams. |
Important Things To Consider
Royalties:
- DistroKid says artists keep 100% of their money.
- They use a third party to collect royalties first, so some revenue might not go directly to the artist.
- They pay royalties on time and provide details on streams, but there’s some negative feedback online.
Costs:
- Low initial cost, but many optional extras can add up.
- Extras like YouTube Content ID and Loudness Normalization cost extra for each track.
Free Marketing Tools:
- Offers free tools like hyperfollow links, social media graphics, and playlist submissions.
- Hyperfollow links are good for directing listeners to their preferred streaming service.
- DistroKid playlists are available, but there’s no personal experience with them.
Support
Speed and Ease:
- DistroKid is known for its fast delivery and simple forms.
Customer Service:
- They have a help center with articles and options to contact them or chat with a bot.
- If your question isn’t covered in the articles, it may take time to get help via email.
- The chatbot can be frustrating, but experiences vary.
How Will You Get Paid for Your Music
Compensation:
- It’s important to know how you’ll be paid before uploading music.
- DistroKid says “100% of the revenue” goes to the artist, but you should check the details yourself.
Payment per Stream:
- You get paid per stream, but the amount varies by platform and country.
- Generally, you earn between $0.004 and $0.007 per stream.
- You need 250 to 500 streams to make one dollar.
- Revenue is split further if you have collaborators on the track.
Collaborators and Charitable Donations:
- DistroKid lets you split the revenue with collaborators automatically.
- You can also choose to donate a portion of your earnings to charity through their “Artists for Change” program.
Final Words
DistroKid is a good choice for new artists and those wanting low-cost distribution with basic features.
It’s also great for releasing cover songs without dealing with licensing yourself. Plus, it’s useful if you’re starting your own label, as their third-tier plan lets you release unlimited music and manage 5 to 100 artists.
However, for artists who need more support and marketing services, DistroKid might not be enough. The extra features can get expensive.
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