What is a music distribution service and why do you need one? Although uploading your song on YouTube is very easy, getting your creations on the likes of Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music decidedly is not. This is where a music distribution service company comes in.
Music distribution has been an integral part of the industry since its inception. Even during the era of Beethoven and Bach, there was a need for someone to print the music sheets and deliver them. The key function of music distributors is to get the music into the hands of consumers, wherever they are, both online and offline.
A music distribution service is basically a platform which helps musicians and artists to get their music on all the different streaming services and (digital) stores. This means the music distribution service acts as an intermediary between the artist on one hand and the streaming platforms and retail stores on the other hand. This ensures that the music is available to listeners globally.
Popular music distribution services include DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, and LANDR. Some offer flat-fee subscriptions, while others may take a percentage of the revenue artists earn. These services are essential for independent musicians looking to reach a broad audience without needing a traditional record label. Read more about how music distributors make money and what different types of music distributors exist.
It is worth remembering that music distribution is only one of many functions that a music distributor typically performs. Read more about what a music distributor does. Also, we have the latest insights on which music distributors have the highly coveted “preferred partner” status for each of the major online streaming services:
- Spotify preferred music distributors
- Youtube Music preferred music distributors
- Apple Music preferred music distributors
