Steve Duffie

Independent Music Distribution

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You’re an independent artist and you just finished a new song that you’re ready to share. So let's explore the world of open independent music distribution.

A lot of independent artists upload their songs to a streaming service like SoundCloud or YouTube. And if you have enough recorded material; usually ten to twelve songs, you can create an album that you can market and sell on sites like Bandcamp. 

While using these two options are great. And you should absolutely consider uploading your music to these platforms; doing that alone won’t give your music the audience you ultimately desire.  And, you're leaving royalties on the table. That’s because today's  consumers use streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, TuneCore, Amazon Music, and hundreds of lesser known streaming services from around the world.

So how do you get your music onto these platforms?

You need an independent music distributor like CD Baby, TuneCore, DistroKid, Ditto, or Symphonic Distribution just to name a few of the more popular distributors. Later in the article We’ll compare the pros and cons of the top five most popular independent  music distributors to help you figure out your next step.

So let's explore:

•What is music distribution?

•Why you should use a music distributor.

•Types of music distributors.

•What to consider when choosing a distributor.

•Top five popular music distribution services to consider.

•Which music distribution service is the best?

What is music distribution?

Music distribution is the process of getting your music to the consumer. Back in the day, this used to mean pressing records or CDs and getting them into a music store, or a big box retailer like Walmart. Today, distribution mainly refers to uploading music to digital service providers (DSPs) so that listeners can stream or download it.

While music stores still exist and have somewhat of a resurgence, their main focus is resale of classic and/or pre released records and CDs. Most independent artists in this age of streaming are primarily concerned with getting their music onto streaming platforms. Not only is it cheaper, but this is also where their songs have the best chance of getting heard around the world. For this reason, this article will focus specifically on independent digital distribution.

Why you should use a music distributor

If you’re an independent artist the benefits to making use of an independent music distributor are–

Get your music onto streaming platforms

The biggest and most obvious reason to work with an independent music distributor is that they will help you get your music to DSPs. There’s simply no other way to get your songs onto Spotify, Apple Music, or other streaming platforms.

Collect royalties

Music distributors collect royalties from DSPs and make them accessible to you all in one place. This means that you don’t have to receive a million different checks from each of the platforms where your music is played. It also means that DSPs don’t have to worry about sending checks to artists directly. It’s a win-win for both parties.

Expand your reach

The higher the number of platforms where your music is available, the better your chances of getting it heard. Not to mention, most DSPs have an algorithm that will recommend your music to potential new fans. In other words, when you use an independent  music distributor, you don’t just make your song accessible to you current fans—you also create opportunities to gain brand new ones.

We’ll talk more about this in the next section, but an independent music distribution service can help you expand your reach even further. This is because they go beyond simply sending your music to DSPs—they help you promote it, pitch it to playlists, or maybe even get it in front of the streaming platform’s editorial team.

Types of music distributors

Now that we’ve gone over the benefits of music distribution, let’s discuss a few of the different ways you can go about it. There are major distributors, distribution partners, and open distributors. In this article we’re only going to explore the open distributors.

Open distributors are primarily for independent artists who are just starting out, or aren’t yet ready to work with a major distributor or distribution partners. As previously mentioned you’ve likely already heard of companies like CD Baby, DistroKid, Ditto, TuneCore, and Symphonic Distributor.  Just about anyone can create an account with them and start distributing their music.

Most open distributors focus solely on getting your music to DSPs. They do this for an annual fee, a flat fee per release, a percentage of royalties, or some combination of these. We compare the pros and cons and costs of the top five open distributors but it is important to do your own research and choose a distributor based on your current needs, wants, and expectations. 

Recently a few open distributors have started to move into the distribution partner territory by providing additional artist services like marketing and playlist pitching. For example, CD Baby has recently launched their label services platform called Stages. The basic tier is available to all artists, while higher tiers require an approved application.

Ditto is bridging the gap between offering open distribution and label-like artist services. They both have an open distribution platform that anyone can use, as well as a gated tier for artists who are further along in their careers. The open platform acts as a discovery tool and helps them identify artists that are worth investing in.

What to consider when choosing a distributor

If you’re looking for an open distribution platform, there are dozens of them out there. When making your selection, be sure to take the following factors into account.

Cost and pricing structure

Some platforms charge a flat fee per single or album, while others offer their service on a subscription basis. Think about how many songs you plan to release per year—does it make more sense to pay an annual fee and release an unlimited number of songs, or pay separately for each release? Subscriptions often end up being more economical, but you may need to keep paying the annual fee for as long as you want to keep your music on DSPs.

Don’t forget to consider whether the platform takes any commission. For example, 10% of your royalties may not seem like much when you’re first starting out, but if you’re making $50,000 from streaming, that’s a sizable amount.

DSPs they distribute to

There’s no standardized list of DSPs that all distributors work with. Some will send your music to only the most popular outlets, while others will cover far more bases. If you’re hoping to gain an international following, make sure the distributor you choose works with popular outlets beyond your country. Lastly, make sure your music will get onto TikTok and Instagram, where your fans will be able to use it as background music in their own content.

Payment schedule

Your royalty payments may be available weekly, monthly, quarterly, or as soon as they reach a certain threshold. Make sure you’re comfortable with your preferred distributor’s payment schedule.

Content monetization

You’ll get royalties when someone streams your music, but what about when they use it in a YouTube video, TikTok, or Instagram reel? Make sure your distributor has a way to keep track of this content and get your royalties and ad revenue.

Publishing services

If you write your own music, you’ll likely want to look into collecting publishing royalties. You can do this on your own by signing up with a performing rights organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC and registering your songs. However, If you want to keep all of your royalties in one place, a great option is to look for a distributor that will do this for you.

Customer support

Before committing to a distributor, do a bit of research and see what other people have to say about their customer support line. Ideally, you want to work with representatives who respond quickly and work diligently to address your concerns and resolve any issues.

Top Five Popular music distribution services to consider

While not an exhaustive list by any means, here are five popular open distributors used by emerging artists. There are plenty of other great options, but if you haven’t done your own research yet, these are a solid place to start.

1. DistroKid

Best for: Artists who frequently release new music throughout the year. 

Price $19.99/yr

Commissions: 0%

Number of outlets: 150

Speed to Spotify: 2-5 days

Customer support: Live chat

Pros: Very competitive subscription free for standard service

Con: Optional extras cost per release

DistroKid is a popular music distribution platform that has been around since 2013. It gained a market edge early on for its aggressive pricing and simplicity of the service. The platform allows artists to upload an unlimited number of tracks for a low annual fee. One of the most significant advantages of DistroKid is its royalty collection system. Artists take home 100% of their royalties. On top of that, DistrKid boasts an array of features benefits including customisable release dates and instant access to Spotify.

2.Tunecore

Best For: Artists who want to test the waters with social media distribution

Price: Free for social media distribution, then $12.99/yr for DPSs

Commission: 0%

Customer Support: Email

Pros: Very competitive pricing with their entry-level free plan

Cons: Not everyone wants a subscription

With their new ‘Unlimited’ strategy, Tunecore went very aggressive on their pricing, offering even a free plan for artists to get their music on social media. Beyond that, they offer a competitive annual plan for unlimited uploads. They also offer publishing administration services to help you manage everything under one roof.

3. CD Baby

Best for: Artist who release infrequently and only want to pay once

Price: $9.99 for a standard single

Commission: 9%

Customer support: Email

Pros: Pay once, no annual fee

Cons: 9% commission on top of what is already relatively expensive CD Baby is one of the oldest music distribution platforms that has been around since 1998.

One of the most significant advantages of CD Baby is its support for physical distribution. The platform allows artists to sell their physical CD, vinyl, and other merchandise directly to fans. CD Baby offers an array of features including YouTube Monetization, and publishing administration.

4. Symphonic Distribution

Best for: Those who need quick turnaround and release frequently 

Price: $19.99/yr

Commission: 0%

Customer support: Email

Pros: Complete offering inside a simple subscription

Cons: Not the most affordable

Symphonic Distribution has been around since 2006 and have solidified their slice of the increasingly competitive distro space. One of their unique-selling-points is in their personalized approach to the service. The platform team of experienced professionals who work with artists to develop their careers. Another thing that sets them apart is their comprehensive content output, offering a range of material around the business of releasing and promoting music. Symphonic Distribution also offers several features, including YouTube Content ID and neighboring rights to royalties collection, Finally, Symphonic Distribution offers several pricing plans for unlimited distribution and a ‘bespoke’ plan for personal services.

5. Ditto

Best for: Artist who frequently release new music throughout the year

Price: $19.99/yr

Commission: 0%

Customer support: Live chat

Pros: Very competitive subscription-free for standard service

Cons: Optional extra cost per release

Ditto is a music distribution platform that has been around since 2020. The platform offers worldwide music distribution to over 200 digital stores, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube, among others. One of the most significant advantages is its artist development. The platform offers a suite of tools and services that help artists to grow their careers, including promotional support, fan engagement tools, and music industry connections. Ditto Plus offers several pricing plans, including a percentage based commission royalty.

Which distribution service is the best?

The good news is, once you’ve chosen a distributor, there’s no rule that says you need to stay with them for the rest of your music career. You can always switch distributors when preparing your next release or even transfer your old releases from one distributor to another. As you grow and move through different stages of your career, your needs and preferences will likely change, so having to switch distributors is entirely normal, if not expected.

The best thing you can do for now is do your research and choose the option that makes the most sense for you at this moment. You can always re-evaluate later. Besides, music distribution companies and the services they offer are constantly evolving, so you never know what the digital distribution landscape might look like in a few years.