The Pros and Cons of Working With a Music Distribution Company
The Pros and Cons of Working With a Music Distribution Company
Blog Article
Music distribution is a crucial element for artists looking to connect with global audiences and generate revenue from their music in the digital age. However, it is important for artists to weigh the pros and cons of working with a digital music distributor and seek legal advice on any contractual obligations that may be laid out in their agreement.
There are a wide range of services provided by digital music distributors, from simple file transfer to full catalogue re-publishing and playlisting. Some offer a more hands off approach and only distribute music files, while others provide extra bespoke services such as copyright protection, release trackers and artist development packages. Some digital music distributors also act as a publishing company, collecting royalties on behalf of songwriters and ensuring that their written works are protected.
When choosing a digital music distributor, it’s important to look at their reputation and track record and check how their partners have faired over the past few years. They should have a history of successful Music distribution partnerships and positive testimonials from previous artists who have worked with them. It’s also worth checking their genre focus to ensure that they have the expertise required to effectively promote and sell your music in that market.
In addition to the main function of distributing music files, some digital music distributors are also starting to offer additional bespoke services for independent artists. AWAL, Believe, IODA and The Orchard are examples of major distributors that offer extra marketing and playlisting support in addition to their core distribution services. In general, these services will come at an extra cost, but they can be an effective way to get your music out there and heard.
Digital distributors typically specialize in delivering music files to streaming platforms and online retailers, such as iTunes. They take a cut of the sale price of the digital download or stream, which is usually a smaller percentage than D2F (direct-to-fan) or physical distributors.
As well as ensuring that any royalties are collected and accounted for, music distribution companies also manage the metadata for each release. This is the information that appears alongside a song on streaming platforms and can be crucial for boosting discovery and engagement. It’s important for artists to check that their music is tagged correctly with the correct genre and other details, as well as keeping a spreadsheet of all their metadata so that they can easily migrate releases between different digital music distributors should they need to do so in the future.
Digital music distribution has a number of benefits for independent artists, from promoting and selling their music to a wider audience to earning more royalties. The key to making the most of these benefits is being proactive in understanding new technologies and consumer trends and collaborating with fellow artists and industry professionals to find solutions that ensure fair compensation for all involved. Thoroughly reviewing any contract before signing is essential, paying particular attention to duration, exclusivity clauses and specific rights being granted to the distributor. Report this page