Music Distribution Service: What Is It and How It Works?
Ever wondered how music distribution works? Here's what I've learned.

In today's digital age, music distribution services have become an essential tool for artists, allowing them to reach a global audience with ease. But what exactly are music distribution services and how do they work? In this article, we delve into the world of music distribution, exploring its importance and providing valuable insights into the process.

Therefore, if you are an independent artist looking to share and spread your music, you have come to the right place. Get ready to embark on this journey and learn about the wonderful music distribution services.

Understanding Music Distribution Services

Music distribution is the process of making music available for streaming or downloading on music stores, streaming platforms, and social media platforms. It is facilitated by third-party companies known as music distribution services, which act as an intermediary between the artist or record label and the store or platform.

It is important to notice that there are two types of music distribution: physical and digital. As the name suggests, physical distribution involves the sale of physical copies of music, such as vinyl or CDs, in record stores. Digital distribution, on the other hand, consists of making music available on streaming platforms and social media.

Today, digital distribution has grown in importance and has become the way to go to get music out there, retain full rights over the royalties, and start building a name or brand. As music distribution is a core aspect of the music industry's business model, it's essential to understand how it works.

Firstly, music distributors have distribution deals with music services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. So the artist or label needs to sign a deal with a music distributor to sell their music to stores or online galleries. To do this, they need to upload their music to the distribution company, along with metadata that includes song titles, cover art, songwriters, and rights holders.

Once everything is ready, the distributor sends the sound file and associated metadata to various streaming services, acting as a hub that collects streaming and royalty data. The distributor then submits the music to all the stores the artist or label wants to send it to all at once. Finally, the company is responsible for collecting revenue from the stores and paying the artist their share.

Popular Music Distribution Services

If you dig for a while on the internet, you will see how easy is to find a distribution company. There are loads of them and each offers different services and alternatives. Some of the most famous are Ditto Music, CD Baby, DistroKid, IndieMassive, LANDR, RouteNote, and Tunecore, among many others. These services usually offer both free and paid options but there are some differences between the two.

On the one hand, free options are a good choice if you're just starting out or on a tight budget because you don't have to sign up and pay annual fees. However, this option has limited features and capabilities and usually takes a long time to distribute your music. Depending on the company, you may also be charged a percentage of sales and royalties.

On the other hand, paid options offer a wider range of features and additional services and resources, such as marketing tools, playlists, and live gig scouting. Of course, they require an upfront payment and a percentage of sales, but they also offer faster distribution times.

When deciding which music streaming service to choose, it's important to check the packages and features to see which one best suits your needs. As mentioned above, most services offer both free and paid options, but some only offer paid options, so check.

Budgeting Your Musical Journey: A Look at the Costs of Music Distribution Services

Now that you have a broad overview of what music distributors are, it is time to talk about their costs. The price of using distribution services varies depending on the company or provider and the type of distribution. That's because each service offers different features.

For example, DistroKid charges a $19.99 subscription service per year to upload as many songs as you want. Similarly, LANDR works with annual subscriptions that offer unlimited distribution plans starting at $19. Some other companies, such as RouteNote and CD Baby, charge for a basic package per year (about $10) but also charge per single or album uploaded.

Whichever service you choose, it's important to note that some music distribution services have hidden fees, so you need to be aware of all the charges and what you're getting into before you decide. Last but not least, some services charge a percentage of your record sales, which can range from 10-25%.

From Streams to Earnings: How Music Distribution Services Manage Royalties and Payments

The way royalties and payments are handled varies from distributor to distributor. However, there are a number of basic criteria that most companies base their services on.

To explain how it works, it is important to start with royalties. Simply put, royalties are a payment that the owner of a song receives for the use of that song. The interesting thing about digital music distribution is that it allows artists to distribute their work while keeping 100% of their royalties.

Streaming services pay music distributors on a per-song basis. This payment goes to the original copyright holder, which is usually the artist or, in some cases, the record label. Music royalties can also include songwriters, recording artists, and intermediaries such as labels, publishers, or producers for the licensed use of their work.

Finally, in addition to distributors, we have music publishers. Music publishers handle the administrative side of royalties, making sure your music is properly licensed and collecting payments. The money earned from downloads and streams from online stores and subscription services is collected and paid to the master record by the distributors.

It's vital to keep in mind that each music distribution service may have its own specific policies regarding royalties and payments, so before making a choice, you should educate yourself on their costs and what you're agreeing to.

Conclusion

In the dynamic landscape of the music industry, music distribution services have emerged as a game-changer, completely renewing the way indie artists share their music with the world. These services have opened doors of opportunity and created a level playing field for musicians of all backgrounds. By understanding how these services work and leveraging their potential, you can take control of your music career like never before.

Gone are the days of relying solely on local gigs or limited physical releases. Music distribution services allow you to expand your reach and connect with a global audience. They provide a platform for your creativity to shine and for your music to resonate with listeners around the world. Seize these opportunities and stay ahead of industry trends to adapt your strategies accordingly.

With the right mindset and the power of music distribution services, you can take your indie music journey to new heights. Embrace the digital age where your music can transcend geographical boundaries and reach those who appreciate your unique sound. Remember, your music deserves to be heard, and music distribution services are here to help you make that happen. Take every chance, stay passionate, and let your music reach its full potential.