What is Music Distribution?
Also called: digital distribution, distributor
Music distribution is getting recorded music into stores and streaming services. A digital distributor delivers your audio, artwork and metadata to platforms and passes the earnings back to you.
Independent artists usually use a distributor rather than dealing with each platform directly. Distributors differ in pricing, the share they keep, extra services and how quickly they deliver.
Before you upload, you need a mastered audio file (usually WAV), artwork that meets the platforms' requirements, accurate metadata and, ideally, a release date a few weeks ahead so there is time to pitch and promote.
Distribution covers the recording. Publishing royalties for the songwriting are collected separately, through performing rights organizations and publishing administrators.
Put it to work
Run a release check on your audio before you upload it to a distributor.
Release Ready Check