Digital Distribution: Getting Your Music on Streaming Platforms
Digital Distribution: Getting Your Music on Streaming Platforms
You can't upload directly to Spotify or Apple Music as an artist — you need a digital distributor to deliver your music to streaming platforms. Here's how it works and how to choose the right one.
What a Distributor Does
A digital distributor delivers your music to streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal, TikTok, Instagram/Facebook, and dozens more). They handle:
- Encoding and delivery — converting your files to each platform's specs and delivering them
- Metadata management — making sure your track titles, credits, ISRC/UPC codes, and release dates are correct
- Royalty collection — collecting your recording royalties from each platform and paying you
- Takedowns — removing your music from platforms when you want
What a Distributor Does NOT Do
- They don't collect performance or mechanical royalties — that's what PROs and the MLC are for
- They don't pitch your music to playlists (most don't — a few offer limited pitching)
- They don't act as your label or publisher
- They don't own your music — you keep your copyright
Types of Distribution Pricing
Subscription Model
- How it works: You pay an annual fee per release or for unlimited uploads
- Examples: DistroKid ($22.99/year for unlimited singles/EPs)
- Best for: Artists who release frequently and want predictable costs
- Watch out: If you stop paying the annual fee, your music may be taken down
Per-Release Model
- How it works: You pay a fee per release (single, EP, album)
- Examples: CD Baby ($9.99/single, $29.99/album, one-time fee)
- Best for: Artists who release infrequently and want to pay once
- Advantage: Your music stays up forever — no recurring fee
Percentage Model
- How it works: The distributor takes a percentage of your royalties (typically 9–15%)
- Examples: Stem (percentage-based with label services), UnitedMasters (tiered)
- Best for: Artists who want no upfront cost and are okay sharing revenue
How to Choose
Ask yourself:
- How often do I release? Frequent releases favor subscription; infrequent favors per-release.
- Do I need label services? Some distributors offer marketing, advances, and sync pitching for a percentage.
- Do I care about keeping my music up permanently? If so, avoid subscription models with takedown policies.
- What platforms do I need? Most major distributors hit all major platforms, but check for niche ones (e.g., Beatport for electronic, JioSaavn for India).
What to prepare before you distribute:
- Audio files: WAV format, 16-bit or 24-bit, 44.1kHz minimum
- Cover art: 3000×3000px, JPG/PNG, no text other than artist name and title
- Metadata: Track titles, artist name, release date, genre, explicit content flag
- ISRC codes: Your distributor can generate these for you if you don't have them
- UPC/barcode: Your distributor can generate this for the release
Release Timeline
Plan to upload your music 3–4 weeks before your desired release date. This gives the distributor time to deliver to all platforms and gives you time to set up pre-saves and pitch to editorial playlists (Spotify requires at least 7 days lead time for editorial pitching via Spotify for Artists).
Key Terms to Know
- ISRC — International Standard Recording Code: a unique identifier for each recording
- UPC — Universal Product Code: a unique identifier for the release (single/EP/album)
- DSP — Digital Service Provider: streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)
- Pre-save — A link that lets fans save your unreleased track to their library so it appears on release day
The Bottom Line
Every independent artist needs a distributor to get on streaming platforms. The right one depends on your release frequency, budget, and whether you want label services. Whatever you choose, remember: your distributor handles your recording royalties — you still need to register with a PRO and the MLC separately to collect your songwriter royalties.
This article is for educational purposes. Pricing and features change — check each distributor's website for current details.
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