Creating music is the first step, but getting it to listeners is a separate process. The journey from a finished track to a fan’s headphones can seem complicated. This article explains how music distribution works in the digital landscape, detailing the path your music takes to reach a global audience.
What Is Music Distribution?
Music distribution is the process of delivering your music to online stores and streaming platforms. A distributor acts as the intermediary between an artist and these digital services like Spotify and Apple Music. This service takes your music and ensures it’s available for streaming or download to a global audience.
This modern system contrasts with the historical model of physical distribution. Previously, getting music to fans meant manufacturing products like vinyl records or CDs. This required significant upfront investment, large-scale manufacturing, and a complex network of trucks and warehouses to get products into brick-and-mortar stores.
The rise of the internet and digital music files changed this process. Digital distribution eliminates the need for physical manufacturing and its logistical hurdles. This shift has made it possible for artists to release music with less overhead and greater control, making global distribution accessible to more creators.
The Key Players in Digital Distribution
The digital music distribution ecosystem has three primary participants. These players work together to form the chain that connects a finished song to a listener.
The first player is the artist or rightsholder, the individual or group who created the music and owns the legal rights to the master recording. The master recording is the official, final version of a song that gets distributed. The artist is the starting point of the distribution chain, holding ownership of the product.
Next is the distributor, which serves as the bridge between the artist and online platforms. These companies have the infrastructure and relationships to deliver music and its data to digital storefronts. They format the artist’s music to meet each platform’s requirements and deliver it for release, also collecting the earnings on the artist’s behalf.
Finally, there are the Digital Service Providers (DSPs). These are the consumer-facing platforms audiences use to listen to music, including streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. This category also includes social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram where music can be used in user-generated content. DSPs are the digital stores where music is made available for public consumption.
Preparing Your Music for Release
Before beginning the distribution process, you must prepare a specific set of assets required by distributors. Having these items ready will streamline the submission process.
- Final audio files. Distributors require high-quality, uncompressed audio files, such as WAV or FLAC, to ensure the best listening experience. These should be 16-bit or 24-bit with a 44.1 kHz sample rate, and the tracks must be professionally mixed and mastered.
- High-resolution artwork. This is the cover image for your release, which is required to be a square image, often 3000×3000 pixels, in JPEG or PNG format. The artwork cannot contain URLs or platform logos, and you must own the rights to the image.
- Release metadata. This is the data attached to your music, including the song title, artist name, featured artists, songwriter names, and genre. Accurate metadata ensures proper tracking, crediting, and discoverability.
- Tracking codes. Your release needs an International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) for each track and a Universal Product Code (UPC) for the entire product (album or EP). Most distributors can generate these codes for you as part of their service.
Choosing a Music Distributor
Selecting the right music distributor will impact how your music reaches audiences and how you earn revenue. Many services are available with different business models, so understanding the differences will help you find a partner that aligns with your career goals.
One category is open DIY (Do-It-Yourself) distributors like DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby, which are accessible to any artist. Their fee structures vary; for instance, some charge a single annual fee for unlimited uploads, while others charge per release and take a commission on royalties. These platforms are designed for artists who want a straightforward way to get their music online.
Another category is curated or application-based distributors, such as The Orchard and AWAL. These companies are more selective, often requiring an application or invitation. They may offer more hands-on support like marketing and playlist pitching. In exchange, they work on a percentage-based commission from the artist’s earnings instead of charging upfront fees.
When comparing distributors, consider the following criteria:
- Fee structure and how it fits your release frequency.
- Royalty split, as some distributors let you keep 100% while others take a commission.
- Quality of analytics and sales reports.
- Speed and responsiveness of customer support.
- Payout processing speed and methods.
- Optional add-on services, such as sync licensing or publishing administration.
The Distribution Process Step-by-Step
After preparing your assets and choosing a distributor, the submission process is straightforward. Distribution platforms guide you through a sequential process to collect all necessary information for delivering your music.
First, create an account on your chosen distributor’s website and provide basic personal and payment information. After setup, you will begin the submission by uploading your audio files and cover artwork. The platform will have an interface for you to drag and drop your files.
Next, you will be prompted to enter all the metadata for your release. This includes the album title, track titles, artist names, and songwriter credits. Double-check this information for accuracy before proceeding.
After entering the metadata, select the DSPs and territories where you want your music available. You can choose a worldwide release or limit it to certain stores and regions. You will also set a release date, which should be at least three to six weeks in the future. This allows time for processing and for you to pitch your songs for playlist consideration.
The final step is to review all the information and submit the release. Your distributor will review your submission to ensure it meets all guidelines before delivering it to the selected services. You can monitor your release’s status through the distributor’s dashboard.
How You Get Paid
The primary revenue a distributor collects for you comes from master recording royalties. When your song is streamed on a platform like Spotify, that platform pays a portion of its revenue to your distributor. The distributor then collects these earnings from all platforms, consolidates them, and provides you with financial statements before paying the royalties to you.
It is important to distinguish between master recording royalties and publishing royalties. The money a distributor collects is for the use of the master recording, which is the audio file of your song. Publishing royalties are earned by the song’s underlying composition (lyrics and melody) and are paid to songwriters and publishers. While distributors focus on master royalties, some offer publishing administration as a separate service to help collect these earnings.
Receiving your money involves payment thresholds and methods. Most distributors have a minimum earning amount, or threshold, that you must reach before withdrawing funds. Once you meet this threshold, you can request a payout through common methods like direct bank transfer or PayPal.