Choosing the Right Distributor for You
To have your music available on digital service providers (DSP’s) like Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer, and social platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, it’s essential to sign up to a distributor.
There are a number of options to choose from and each distributor works in a slightly different way, offering different services and membership tiers.
Things to consider
To help you with your decision, we recommending keeping in mind the below:
- Fee Structure - generally, distributors have two types of deals:
- The distributor takes a % of your music royalties but does not charge an upfront fee.
- Pay a fee for distribution and keep 100% of your royalties.
- Funding - some distributors have different tiers available to artists, and in some cases, there are opportunities to be signed to label service deals.
- Payment splitting - a service provided by distributors which automatically pays everyone who contributed to your release. It can be a pain to do this yourself, so finding a service that provides this should be a priority - be aware of the costs associated with this too.
- Worldwide distribution - Distributors will deliver your music to the majority of stores internationally. However, some distributors don’t distribute to NETEase for example, which is the largest DSP in China, a valuable market for streaming.
- Lyrics - Having lyrics available on streaming services is a great way to increase engagement on your profile. However, not all distributors will do this on your behalf (note: you’ll need to use Musixmatch to deliver lyrics to Spotify no matter what platform you’re using).
Popular Distributors
Here is a quick overview of some of the popular distributors:
- DistroKid:
- Known for its affordability and ease of use.
- Offers unlimited uploads for an annual fee.
- TuneCore:
- Charges per release (single or album) but offers 100% royalties to the artist.
- Provides additional artist services like publishing administration.
- CD Baby:
- One of the oldest and most trusted distributors.
- Offers lifetime distribution for a one-time fee per release.
- Includes publishing and sync licensing options.
- Amuse:
- Offers a free distribution tier.
- Premium plans include additional features like faster release times and licensing options.
- LANDR:
- Combines distribution with automated mastering services.
- Offers flexible plans with features for indie artists and labels.
Other companies include:
For a comprehensive review of the main distribution companies, check out this blog by Ari’s Take.
Ready to choose the perfect distributor for your music?
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