Distribution

📦 Section 1: What is Music Distribution?

Definition:Music distribution is the process of getting your songs onto digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and TikTok.

Why It Matters:Without a distributor, your music won’t show up where fans are listening. A good distributor also handles reporting, royalties, and some rights management.

🔄 Section 2: Types of Distributors

Platform	Payment Model	Yearly Fee	% Royalties Taken	Notes
DistroKid	Subscription-based	$22.99/yr	0%	Unlimited uploads
TuneCore	Per release or yearly	$9.99/single, $29.99/album/yr	0%	Great for artists who release less
UnitedMasters	Free or paid tier	Free or $59.99/yr	10% (Free) / 0% (Paid)	Sync placements included
CD Baby	One-time per release	$9.95+	9%	Good for casual artists
Amuse	Free/Paid	Free / $60/yr	0% (Pro)	Mobile app-based

🛠 Section 3: How to Upload Your Music (Step-by-Step)

Using DistroKid as the example platform

✅ Step 1: Set Up Your DistroKid Account

1. Go to https://www.distrokid.com.

2. Choose a plan:

   • Musician ($22.99/year for 1 artist name)

   • Musician Plus ($39.99/year for extra features like custom release dates)

   • Label ($79.99+/year for multiple artists)

🔑 Tip: If you plan on releasing more than 1–2 songs per year, DistroKid is often cheaper than TuneCore.

3. Create your account and verify your email.

4. Enter your artist name, Spotify and Apple Music profiles (or request new ones if it’s your first release).

✅ Step 2: Prepare Your Files Before Uploading

1. Audio File

   • Format: WAV or FLAC (highest quality)

   • Naming: Use the format SongName.wav or ArtistName_SongName.wav

   • Must be final mix and mastered — don’t upload rough drafts!

2. Cover Art

   • Size: Minimum 3000x3000 pixels

   • Format: JPG or PNG

   • No logos, social media handles, website URLs, or explicit imagery (unless labeled as such)

   • Must be square

3. Metadata (important info)

   • Artist Name

   • Song Title (exact spelling!)

   • Genre & Subgenre

   • Songwriters/Producers

   • Explicit Content? Yes/No

   • Release Date (can be today or scheduled in advance)

4. Lyrics (optional but smart)

   • Add your song lyrics — DistroKid can send them to platforms like Apple Music

   • You can also sync lyrics for Instagram & Spotify Stories

✅ Step 3: Upload Your Music

1. Click the “Upload” tab in your DistroKid dashboard.

2. Select:

   • Number of Songs (single, EP, or album)

   • Artist Name (select if you already have one or create new)

   • Stores you want your music to go to (Spotify, Apple, TikTok, etc.)

   ✅ Recommended: Keep everything checked, including social platforms.

3. Enter your release details:

   • Release Date: Choose future date for pre-save campaigns

   • Pre-Order: Let fans buy before it drops (optional)

   • Record Label Name: Optional — can just be your artist name

   • Album Title/Song Title: Match your artwork and lyrics

   • Primary Genre/Subgenre: Choose based on your sound

   • Language

   • Explicit lyrics?

   • Instrumental?

   • Songwriters: Add legal names, not artist aliases

✅ Step 4: Advanced Options

You’ll see several add-ons — some are free, some paid. Here’s what they mean:

Add-On	What It Does	Cost
YouTube Content ID	Monetizes your song when used in others’ videos	$4.95/year/song + 20% revenue cut
Store Maximizer	Automatically sends your song to new platforms as they’re added	$7.95/year
Shazam & iPhone Siri	Let people identify your song via Shazam/Siri	$0.99/year/song
Leave a Legacy	Keeps your song up even if your subscription ends	$29 one-time per song

🧠 Pro Tip: You don’t need to buy all the extras. At minimum, Shazam & YouTube ID can be worth it if you're promoting the song.

✅ Step 5: Upload & Submit

1. Agree to DistroKid’s terms.

2. Click "Done!" — your song will begin processing.

3. You’ll get a confirmation email and a dashboard view of your release status..

Tip: Always release on a Friday for best charting potential.

💰 Section 4: How You Get Paid

• Master Royalties come from streams and downloads.

• Distributors collect and report earnings.

• You must set up banking info and tax forms in your account.

• Some platforms offer YouTube monetization, TikTok usage, and Facebook/Instagram royalties as extras.

  
  

⚖️ Section 5: Key Differences Between TuneCore & DistroKid

Feature	DistroKid	TuneCore
Payment Model	Annual fee (unlimited)	Per-release / annual
Royalty % Taken	0%	0%
Speed	Very fast (2–3 days)	Fast (3–5 days)
YouTube Monetization	Included in higher tiers	Add-on
Artist Plans	1 artist per plan	Each artist pays separately
Good For	Releasing lots of music	Releasing occasionally

🎯 Section 6: Choosing the Right Distributor

Use DistroKid if:

• You release music regularly

• You want fast uploads and low annual cost

• You don’t want to share royalties

Use TuneCore if:

• You release less frequently

• You want more control per release

• You’re okay paying a bit more upfront

📌 Final Tips for Musicians:

• Release consistently — the algorithm loves activity.

• Tag your collaborators (for splits and credits).

• Check metadata accuracy (name, genre, ISRC, etc.).

• Create pre-save links to build hype.

• Keep your artwork professional — no pixelated covers