In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of music, understanding the intricacies of contracts, royalties, and revenue streams is essential for aspiring musicians and industry professionals alike. These elements form the backbone of the music business, shaping the financial landscape and determining the success of artists and their ventures. In this blog post, we will delve into the fascinating realm of the music business, exploring the key concepts behind contracts, royalties, and revenue streams. Drawing insights from authoritative sources such as “Run Your Music Business” by Audrey K. Chisholm Esq, “Indie Artist Guide” by The Industry Unveiled, and “Music Business Essentials” by Kevin Craig, we will shed light on the vital aspects that shape the modern music industry.
Contracts: The Foundation of Music Business
Contracts serve as the bedrock upon which the music industry operates, ensuring that all parties involved are protected and fairly compensated. Audrey K. Chisholm Esq, in her book “Run Your Music Business,” provides valuable guidance on the intricacies of contract negotiation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the terms and conditions. Whether it’s a recording contract, publishing agreement, or licensing deal, artists need to be well-versed in the legal language and clauses that govern their rights and obligations. By carefully reviewing contracts, artists can safeguard their creative output, ensure proper compensation, and avoid potential pitfalls.
Royalties: Unlocking Income Streams
Royalties are the lifeblood of musicians, enabling them to earn income from their creative works. “Indie Artist Guide” by The Industry Unveiled offers a comprehensive exploration of the various types of royalties, including mechanical royalties, performance royalties, and synchronization royalties. Mechanical royalties, for instance, are generated from the reproduction and distribution of music, such as sales of physical copies and digital downloads. On the other hand, performance royalties are earned when music is publicly performed, whether on the radio, in live venues, or through streaming services. Understanding the nuances of royalty collection and licensing agencies is crucial for artists to maximize their earnings and ensure they receive fair compensation for their artistry.
Revenue Streams: Diversifying the Music Business
In an era of digital music consumption, artists must explore diverse revenue streams beyond traditional album sales. “Music Business Essentials” by Kevin Craig provides valuable insights into the modern music landscape, highlighting the significance of exploring new avenues for generating income. Revenue streams such as streaming platforms, merchandise sales, sync licensing, and live performances all contribute to an artist’s financial success. The book emphasizes the importance of artist development and strategic marketing, enabling musicians to promote their work and build a dedicated fan base effectively. By diversifying revenue streams, artists can enhance their financial stability and create sustainable careers in the music industry.
Navigating Copyrights and Intellectual Property:
Understanding copyright laws and protecting intellectual property is paramount in the music industry. Both “Run Your Music Business” and “Music Business Essentials” provide in-depth coverage of copyright registration, infringement, and the protection of creative works. By registering their compositions and recordings, artists gain legal protection and can enforce their rights in case of unauthorized use or plagiarism. Additionally, knowledge of fair use, public domain, and licensing can empower artists to explore collaborations, sample existing works, and create new revenue opportunities.
Contracts, royalties, and revenue streams are the pillars that underpin the business of music. By comprehending the intricacies of contract negotiation, royalty collection, and diversifying revenue streams, artists can navigate the complex music industry landscape and build successful careers. Additionally, leveraging innovative platforms like Playlist Streams can help artists gain exposure, increase their streaming numbers, and reach a wider audience, ultimately boosting their chances of success in the competitive music market.
1. Define Your Brand Identity:
Building a strong brand starts with understanding who you are as an artist and what sets you apart from others. Bobby Borg emphasizes this in “Music Marketing for the DIY Musician.” Define your unique sound, image, and values to create a brand identity that resonates with your target audience. Consider your musical genre, visual style, and the emotions you want to evoke through your music.
2. Craft a Compelling Story:
Storytelling is a powerful tool for connecting with fans on a deeper level. Bob Baker, in his “Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook,” stresses the importance of sharing your story authentically. Develop a narrative that communicates your musical journey, influences, and experiences that shape your artistry. This narrative will help fans relate to you and create a stronger connection.
3. Leverage Social Media:
Dan Shinder’s “Social Media Marketing For Musicians That Works!: Vol. I Essentials You Need To Know” underscores the significance of social media in today’s music landscape. Utilize platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to engage with your audience, share content, and promote your brand. Develop a consistent posting schedule, interact with fans, and use social media features to showcase your music and personality effectively.
4. Create Engaging Content:
To build a loyal fan base, consistently produce high-quality content. Bobby Borg highlights this in his book. Share behind-the-scenes footage, studio sessions, live performances, music videos, and vlogs to give fans a glimpse into your creative process and lifestyle. Encourage audience participation and create interactive experiences to foster a sense of community.
5. Collaborate with Influencers:
In the “Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook,” Bob Baker emphasizes the power of collaboration. Partnering with influencers, other musicians, or brands can expose your music to new audiences and enhance your brand’s credibility. Seek out opportunities for guest features, joint performances, or cross-promotions to expand your reach and connect with potential fans.
6. Engage with Your Fans:
Building a strong brand involves building strong relationships with your fans. Interact with them genuinely and regularly. Respond to comments, messages, and mentions, and make your followers feel valued and appreciated. Bobby Borg emphasizes the importance of creating a strong fan base and turning them into loyal supporters who will champion your music.
7. Utilize Email Marketing:
Incorporate email marketing as a powerful tool to communicate directly with your fans. Bobby Borg’s “Music Marketing for the DIY Musician” emphasizes the value of building an email list. Encourage fans to sign up by offering exclusive content, early access to releases, or special discounts. Regularly send newsletters with updates, upcoming shows, and new releases to nurture your relationship with your audience.
8. Stage Memorable Live Performances:
Live performances are crucial for creating a lasting impact on your fans. Bob Baker’s “Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook” suggests innovative ways to enhance your live performances, such as incorporating multimedia elements, offering merch, and engaging with the audience. Create a unique and memorable experience that showcases your music and brand identity.
In the music industry, building a strong brand is essential to achieving long-term success. By understanding your unique sound, values, and story, you can develop a powerful brand identity that resonates with your target audience. Leverage social media, create engaging content, collaborate with influencers, engage with your fans, and utilize email marketing to promote yourself effectively. By incorporating these strategies and tips from Bobby Borg’s “Music Marketing for the DIY Musician,” Dan Shinder’s “Social Media Marketing For Musicians That Works!: Vol. I Essentials You Need To Know,” and Bob Baker’s “Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook,” you can build a strong brand as a musician and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
To further support your marketing efforts, consider utilizing services like PlaylistStreams, which can help you gain exposure and reach new audiences through curated playlists. Remember, a strong brand combined with strategic marketing initiatives will propel your music career forward and set you apart in the competitive music industry.
For independent musicians, the world of music royalties can be confusing and overwhelming. There are several organizations that manage and distribute royalties, and each has its own rules and requirements. One of the most important organizations for independent artists to know about is SoundExchange. In this blog post, we’ll explain who SoundExchange is, what they do, why independent artists need them, and how to use them.
Who is SoundExchange?
SoundExchange is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of recording artists and record labels. They were created in 2000 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and represent over 230,000 recording artists and rights owners.
What does SoundExchange do?
SoundExchange’s primary function is to collect and distribute digital performance royalties for non-interactive digital music services. This includes streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music, as well as satellite and internet radio stations. Whenever your music is played on one of these services, SoundExchange collects the royalty on your behalf.
Why do independent artists need SoundExchange?
If you’re an independent artist, it’s essential to register with SoundExchange because they collect royalties that you might not be able to collect on your own. The process of collecting digital performance royalties can be complicated, and services like Spotify and Pandora might not have accurate information about who to pay. By registering with SoundExchange, you ensure that you’re getting paid for every digital performance of your music.
How to use SoundExchange
Using SoundExchange is straightforward, but there are a few steps you need to take to get started:
Step 1: Register with SoundExchange
The first step is to register with SoundExchange. You can do this online by visiting their website and creating an account. During the registration process, you’ll provide information about yourself, your music, and your rights ownership. This information is used to ensure that you’re paid accurately.
Step 2: Claim Your Music
Once you’re registered, you’ll need to claim your music. This means providing SoundExchange with a list of your recordings that are eligible for royalties. This list should include the title of the recording, the artist name, the record label, and the release date.
Step 3: Monitor Your Royalties
After you’ve registered and claimed your music, SoundExchange will start collecting royalties on your behalf. You can log in to your account at any time to see how much money you’ve earned and how many digital performances of your music have been reported.
Step 4: Get Paid
SoundExchange distributes royalties on a quarterly basis, and payments are made directly to your bank account. You’ll receive a statement from SoundExchange showing how much you’ve earned and how the payment was calculated.
Conclusion
SoundExchange is an essential organization for independent artists to know about. By registering with them, you ensure that you’re getting paid for every digital performance of your music on streaming services and internet radio stations. The registration process is simple, and once you’re set up, you can monitor your earnings and get paid on a regular basis. So if you’re an independent artist, don’t overlook SoundExchange – it could be the key to maximizing your music royalties. Especially after you’ve done a few campaigns with PlaylistStreams
In the age of digital streaming, playlists have become a crucial component of how artists have grown their fanbase and spread their music. Whether it be Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL, or any other digital streaming platform, playlists bring new music to the ears of listeners that would not have come across it otherwise. In fact, Bloomberg argues that placement on some of the premier playlists that these platforms curate themselves, such as “Daily Mix” and “Today’s Top Hits” (Spotify), guarantees that a song will become a hit.Spotify’s biggest playlist, Today’s Top Hits, has been streamed over 20 billion times, has 25 million followers, and has had over 70 artists on it receive more than 100 million streams. Even some of the much smaller playlists have the potential to truly put an artist in the spotlight as multiple placements across various playlists could have just as much, if not, even a bigger impact promotionally. To begin to understand this new wave of music promotion, we first must understand what the types of playlists are.
Types of Playlists and Submissions
Today, there are more than 100 million listeners across the world who pay for streaming subscriptions to listen to music. The key to getting your song noticed as an independent artist is by getting it placed on these platforms’ playlists. The type that you may be most familiar with is user-created playlists, whether it be because of some playlists you have created for yourself or the ones your friends have made. Besides this, there are also algorithmic playlists that suggest you songs based on your listening data and history; some popular examples of these are “Your Daily Mix” and “Discover Weekly” on Spotify. In addition to algorithmic playlists, there are also human-curated playlists that are created by around 100 editors at Spotify and other streaming platforms. They use their expertise, marketing, and listening data across the entire app to make their selections for hundreds of playlists. Lastly, there are the hybrid playlists that incorporate both human and algorithmic elements of selection. Regardless of which type of playlist your music is on, the goal is consistent: bringing each listener the best music that they would want to listen to.
Only in July 2018, Spotify introduced a new way for artists to submit their music onto the platform’s playlists. On the Spotify for Artists service, artists can pitch their songs to the company’s editors via an online form that asks the artist for information such as mood, culture, and genre to better understand which playlist would be best suited for their success. After the submission, editors on the Spotify team review the songs on a weekly basis and use data and expertise to add the songs to their desired playlists.
However, this is no guarantee that your music will make it onto the playlists given the fact that thousands, if not more, artists are all submitting their music: to say the competition is intense would be an understatement. A myriad of artists are still skeptical about this submission process because of the lack of transparency that Spotify has provided on its specifics. For instance, Spotify will not specify how many submissions it gets on a weekly basis from artists nor how many of these submissions end up on their playlists. This has led to a lack of trust in their submission process and leads artists to look elsewhere for trusted services to use in order to gain playlist additions and organic streams of their music.
How Have Playlists Changed the Industry for Artists?
The most interesting impact of playlists is how they have shifted the manner in which artists make music. Nowadays, whenever an artist submits a song for playlist consideration to Spotify, it will automatically be added to some of the algorithmically created “New Music Friday” playlists for listeners. On top of that, artists have also realized that it would make more sense financially to release one or two songs at a time in a shorter time spans than it would to release an entire album worth of songs per year. This way, they can boost the streams and playlist additions of each one of their songs and in turn, make more from streaming royalties.
Additionally, many artists such as Drake have also began to create longer albums with shorter songs. This strategic approach to music production increase the amount of streams each song gets by a substantial amount because it reduces the odds of the listener skipping the song. Consequently, it also ensures a more successful album while also improving the odds of an artists’ music getting onto playlists with large followings. Furthermore, this trend of playlist necessity has also led artists to understand that their music needs to grab their listener’s attention within the first 30 seconds. Since Spotify does not pay artists for songs that get skipped by the listener before the 30 second mark, it is up to the artist to make sure they captivate the listener with their flow right away and that they do not waste time in the introductory seconds.
The ever growing demand by artists for playlists has led to an incredibly high supply: more than 2 billion playlists exist on Spotify alone! It would only be fair to assume that AppleMusic has around the same aggregate and this still does not include the total playlists on all the other various streaming platforms as well. In a way, playlist hits have become this generation’s equivalent of radio hits. Trending near the top of various playlists could have an even greater impact that any other form of promotion because of how easily listeners who enjoy the music can download the song, add it to their personal playlists, and even share the word about the song.
Maximizing Your Playlist Additions
There is no question that playlist additions are crucial to an independent artist’s ability to promote their music. But how can you maximize your playlist placements? The answer is PlaylistStreams.com. Through our service, you can ensure that your music will be on multiple playlists that our team sees best fit to maximize the distribution of your music. From these placements, you will then receive organic streams and your fanbase and platform will grow tremendously. With our relationships with hundreds of curators who have thousands of playlists, you can count on us to deliver and push your music to the ears of fans across the world.
The time to take advantage of this revolutionary mode of music promotion is now and with PlaylistStreams.com, you can join the wave of independent artists boosting their platform and solidifying their marks in the music industry.
The answer to how much music streaming services pay their artists has always been a complicated one, but today, we will begin to unravel this key component of the music business. Aside from the immediate differences in payments due to distinct digital streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, other factors such as reach and aggregate users can also influence royalty rates and the ability of artists to propel themselves to the upper limits of success.
In the music industry, royalties are payments that individuals with the right to pieces of music (artists, songwriters, producers, and composers) obtain from anyone who uses their licensed music. In other words, people compensate the right holders for the ability to use their music. When an artist’s music is distributed through digital streaming service (DSP) as it is often the case nowadays, they receive a payment for each stream of their music. Interestingly enough though, these platforms such as Spotify and Amazon Music do not have flat and fixed payments that they allocate per stream. Instead, a stream’s royalty rate is determined through the listener’s country and specific location, the artist’s royalty rate, how pricing and currencies vary amongst countries, and if the listener has a free or premium account. Due to these various factors which are always subject to change, it becomes extremely difficult to ascertain a specific stream royalty rate.
Nonetheless, studies of musicians’ payments on a number of digital streaming services have been conducted to gain a general understanding of estimated royalties across platforms. Some general findings include that per stream, Napster pays $0.019, Tidal pays $0.01284, Apple Music pays $0.00783, Google Play Music pays $0.00676, Deezer pays $0.0064, Spotify pays $0.00437, Amazon Music pays $0.00402, Pandora pays $0.00133, and YouTube pays $0.000069. Though these approximate royalty rates for each stream may alert artists to pick the highest paying services first, it is crucial to remember that the platforms with lower payments may still provide unique advantages due to them having higher user totals and greater international reach. Additionally, when artists release music on platforms some of the lower-paying platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, they provide a direct route to the fingertips of millions of fans; a process that used to be much more tedious, taxing, and expensive than now. These factors help provide an artist with the whole picture in digital streaming services and remind them that royalties are just reflections of the value these services bring to the client.
With numbers as low as these, an artist may wonder how it would be possible to achieve financial success to the extent they which through solely streaming. Playlist Streams is how! When an artist uses Playlist Streams, all their streams generate royalties and their music get exposed to large audiences. Although it is possible if your music is received extremely well by the users, this also points to the fact that royalties are simply one part of an artist’s finances. Other aspects such as touring, gigs, CD sales, and so much more will all help artists succeed financially and work in unison with streaming royalties. Furthermore, even if artists were able to make significant sums from just streaming royalties, then a large portion of it will be eaten up by other entities in the process of getting to the artist. For example, the Economist conducted another study in which their experts say that a billion streams on any subscription services bring an average of $7 million for big label companies and $1 million for the artist responsible for creating the music. Through this $1 million may seem like a substantial amount, we must put it into perspective as it is a sum that only a select few artists who top the charts for the day or week will receive. Every artist is nowhere near that popular, and the nonprofit organization Music Industry Research Association found that in a survey of 1,277 musicians, the median musician made $35,000 in 2017 and only $21,300 of that sum was from music-related sources. Clearly, there is a disparity between not just the payments received by label companies and big-name artists, but also between those larger name artists and the majority of the other artists in the industry. There needs to be much more improvement in relation to these rates and allocating a larger portion of them to the creators of the work.
Regardless of the fact that royalties are just one part of the equation and that they need improvement, they are undoubtedly one of the biggest portions of an artist’s financial journey because it allows them to be compensated for each time their music is used for enjoyment and even commercial purposes. Services such as Playlist Streams help boost your streams in an organic manner that will help you gain exposure while also monetizing upon it through the royalties. Ultimately, these royalties are dictated by a myriad of factors and are only one part of your financial journey as an artist. However, the exposure that these streams and royalties can help you gain is unmatched and truly beneficial for your journey in the music industry.
In the age of digital streaming, one of the most important decisions that an artist will make is choosing a music distribution service that can best promote their work. Gone are the times of everyone solely using vinyl records and cassette tapes: now, record labels and artists made the colossal change to use the intermediaries of digital music distribution services to push their music to audiences in every corner of the world.
Understanding Music Distribution Services
First things first: What is the purpose of a music distribution service? You can picture them as the middleman between you, the artist, and the major listening platforms in the world known as the Digital Service Providers (DSPs). These companies take care of the procedural and administrative work that needs to be done for your music; this extends to listening to your songs, selecting the genre that it will get the most exposure on, and negotiating with listening platforms. These online music streaming companies only take music releases that come to them through distribution services. Therefore, they are necessary to bridge the gap between an artist’s work and the audience. The question arises as to how some of the most popular distribution services function and this information will ultimately help you as an artist decide which service is best suited for you. When selecting, artists should be cognizant of fee structures, stored services, added services, and lastly, the reputation and experience of the platform. Once your song is upload via a distributor you will be ready to apply for a PlaylistStream campaign to build your fanbase. Let’s take a look at some of the nuances of the leading services that I recommend to help you make your decision.
Ditto Music: The All Rounder
Launched in 2005, Ditto Music is a distribution service that is open to all and has over 200 outlets. Upon registering with Ditto, the service helps promote your music to online platforms like Apple Music, YouTube,Spotify, VEVO, and many more. It not only pushes your music to stores around the world, but gives you the liberty to limit which regions you want to focus on spreading your music too. The service markets its clients both online/offline, and also through the PR deals it signs to further expand the audience base of artists. Additionally, Ditto Music covers your Airplay-Royalty Registration, which ensures that you receive the appropriate royalties for when your music is played on the radio. The distribution service also takes care of its artists’ copyrights and uses their digital fingerprinting to prevent potential copyright infringements. Yet another positive of Ditto Music is that it gives the artist complete autonomy in regards to the royalties and earnings. They do not charge any hidden costs and execute secure financial transactions. The distribution fee for an unlimited amount of songs is $19 and there is also a $19 annual fee per artist. Ditto does not take any portion of an artist’s earnings or royalties and provides transparency with the records of both of these components as well.
Some of the shortcomings of Ditto are that although it covers the digital distribution of your music, it does not perform physical distribution as well. Ditto also only does music promotion if its artists have purchased the specific packages for that service; a general registration alone does not provide its clients with the full breadth of their promotion services. Furthermore, although artists have the independence to alter their track order before uploading their music, this ability is gone after the release has been officially processed. Ditto is reported to have a poor user interface online and its customer service also needs improvement. Lastly, Ditto also only covers an artist’s original video content and will not help distribute videos that it may see as obstacles for new artists it may sign with.
Taking all of this into consideration, I recommend Ditto as a great music distribution service for both up and coming artists as well as experienced ones. Its diligence in taking care of all the work that needs to be done before the release of the song all the way until the actual release and beyond truly eases the journey for the artists. It helps project your music across the world while also maintaining transparency about your earnings and royalties. Though it has its fair share of weaknesses and limitations, I believe that Ditto should still be a top choice, especially for artists still getting a grasp of the music business.
EmuBands: For the Independent Artist
Based out of the UK, EmuBands is yet another premier music distribution service that is tailored for independent artists. The versatile EmuBands team consists of seasoned professionals from all fields of the music business. The company has worked with thousands of clients since its 2005 origins and thus their experience is not something you should worry about at all. Unlike Ditto Music, EmuBands has a stellar reputation with customer service and even goes as far as naming an Account Manager for every one of their artists so that they can receive all the guidance and help they need. Additionally, EmuBands takes transparency with its artists one step further by providing them with direct access to their respective sales data and market trends: all from their personal user account. Artists can download this data and examine it offline with tremendous ease. EmuBands also provides the free service of automatically registering your music on Shazam to ensure that anyone who is unfamiliar with your music can discover your work right away. They also give more power to the artists by giving them the ability to pick when they want their music to be pre-ordered or released. This is a functionality that many music distribution services fail to offer and separates EmuBands from its competitors. Lastly, the service also provides a royalty payout system with a great user interface as an artist can continually receive updates on their payments and other information. EmuBands lets you obtain your payments as quickly as you want while also eliminating minimum payment thresholds.
EmuBands has room for improvement; for instance, it currently has no admin publishing services. Furthermore, it also is quite expensive with its release fees which start at $42. Along with this price, there is no payment splitting functionality or YouTube content ID, both of which many other distribution services offer. Despite these few cons, I still believe EmuBands is a leading choice because of both all the benefits listed as well as its commitment to address its issues. EmuBands has shown a commitment to continual progress and it will not be long before these issues are also resolved. The higher price is well worth it because of the sheer amount of independence it gives the artists as well as services it provides at no additional fee. For a single plan of $42.50 with 1-2 tracks, you can get a lifetime of unparalleled support and services while also keeping 100% of your royalties. EmuBands is truly willing to go above and beyond to push their artists’ music to audiences.
Landr: Unparalleled Collaboration and Mastery Services
Lastly, Landr is another distribution service that I highly encourage to consider in your search. With just an annual fee, artists are able to upload an unlimited number of songs throughout the year. A unique feature of this service is that artists can make their work accessible to other artists, friends, and even producers to get the opportunity for feedback. With this feature, artists can get a sense of the critical reception of their music before releasing it and even improve their music with other musically savvy professionals. To the other end of this collaboration feature, artists can also access to free music samples from other producers to create their own versions of them with a unique spin. This type of free and legal transparency between samples is something quite amazing about Landr as several other services are still attempting to figure out how to do the same thing. The user interface is engaging and facile to use because they have a free app that artists can download on their laptops. Landr also established Landr Academy; a portion of their services dedicated to providing their clients with tips on how to maximize their promotion and collaboration potentials. Finally, Landr also helps register you with other services and even gives you the ability to link your account with your SoundCloud account at no further costs.
Like all music distribution services, Landr also has areas in which it can use a bit more work. It also does not provide a publishing administration and can be a platform that requires some time to get used to handling. The pricing can be confusing as well because it is difficult to see what the differences are between the packages and if some are truly worth the greater price than the others. The three primary plans are the basic plan ($48 yearly), advanced plan ($108 yearly), and pro plan ($299 yearly). There is always a push for its clients to spend more money to also pay for the mastering services which the advanced and pro plans provide. Finally, if an artist was to cancel their subscription then all of their releases would be frozen. Despite these cons, Landr is both a reputable and amazing music distribution serivce. Landr is a platform that takes no commission from you, lets you maintain all your earnings, and also provides complementary educational content and AI mastering tools for its artists to sound like true professionals. This type of genuine care for the quality of their clients work is hard to find in the music distribution service industry.
Concluding Thoughts
Whether you pick one of these three services or any of the countless others, remember that this is ultimately your decision. As an artist, you should be asking yourself: which service makes me feel most comfortable and also has my best interests at heart? The answer to these questions will vary for each artist, but just remember how much easier music distribution services can make your journey in delivering your music from your room to the ears of people around the world. Keeping all these factors in mind, will make the decision of selecting a service all the simpler.
Once you’ve picked your distributor and you have your music listed in the DSPs, you can then promote your music via PlaylistStreams to maximize your listeners, build your fan base and get your career rolling!
We get asked by a numerous amount of people how do they get their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc. Digital distribution is what you would need. Distributors are the ones who get your music on all the Digital Service Providers (Spotify, Apple, etc.) libraries. Some companies whom you can sign up for distribution are Tunecore, AWAL, DITTO, Distro Kid, United Masters etc. Each one of them are different and you should weigh the pros and cons of each company.
We found a great and very informative article comparing these distribution companies. The article covers everything from what distribution companies do, how to work with a company, how to get a distribution deal, the fee structure and services.
In addition, it also has a chart comparing each distributor side by side. When deciding on a distributor make sure you work with a company who best fits your goals as an artist. For detailed information please read the article by the music distribution gurus.
Once you have your song upload to a distributor, you then can send us a link to your music so that we can get them on Playlist.
