Distribution
What is Music Distribution?
Music distribution is the connecting line between your music and your listeners. Music distribution is a core part of the industry’s business model, making it possible for music to be purchased, downloaded, or streamed online.
The Two Kinds of Distribution: Physical vs. Digital
There are two main types of distribution: Physical and Digital.
The more traditional distribution method is Physical, which includes CDs, vinyl, cassettes, sheet music, and printed scores. Distributors work with record labels or artists, giving distributors the right to sell their music to big box retailers and record stores.
Digital distribution works similarly, just on online platforms. Instead of physically transporting music to stores, the music is distributed to online streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as content creation platforms like TikTok. While physical distribution is still alive and active, digital distribution has outpaced physical distribution’s overall revenue contribution, accounting for 45 percent of total revenues compared to 39 percent for physical sales. (Source, 2016)
How Digital Music Distribution Works
Distributors disperse music to streaming services and online download platforms by executing payments, subscriptions, or contracts. Once distributed, any time a song is streamed, that song accumulates mechanical royalties. Distribution companies then securely take those earned royalties and payout the artist or label. Major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music usually pay royalties 2-3 months after the streams occur.
Digital Distribution Tips
Build Anticipation-
Before distributing your new project, it’s important that everything about you is moving in the same direction. Everything that defines your image must follow a well-oiled and coherent artistic line. This will allow you to present it better, in order to sell it better.
An interesting exercise to define your universe is to “pitch” your project yourself. How to present it simply, quickly and efficiently so that any listener, media, tour manager, label, editor, etc., can immerse themselves in your bubble.
Start by asking yourself the following questions:
-
What is my world?
-
Why this project?
-
What makes me different from other artists?
The key to a good release is to prepare it well beforehand. There is no point in running, you have to start on time…
For example, for the cover of your project: should I make an identical cover for all the pieces? There has to be a common thread between your releases and everything has to be thought out beforehand.
But also, ask yourself these questions:
When to upload my songs on the digital platform of my distributor?
When to set a release date?
What is the ideal length of time (in days/weeks) between two singles releases?
Timing Is Everything-
Allow a month between the request for digital distribution and the day of release to enter the official channels. Putting your music on the biggest digital distribution platforms is not done in a few seconds. Of course, your digital distributor will do his best to be as fast as possible. Depending on the platform, it takes 48 hours or less for Spotify or Deezer for example. While there will be a longer wait for Apple Music, Itunes, Napster and other platforms.
Random factors can also disrupt your release if you do not anticipate the release date of your project. Indeed, rare technical time constraints are possible to deliver to certain platforms.
An essential point about pitching. For all the artists who wish to integrate songs in official playlists with Wiseband. Please note that you need to allow at least one month to integrate the playlists. So if you want a pitch for a playlist placement, the delay will be at least one month. We say more here to have your own songs in official playlists with Wiseband. Also, it is necessary to foresee a margin of error for possible last minute changes: changing the cover, updating the song, etc…
Finally, you need to space your releases well, to give your audience time to “pre-save” your release on their respective Spotify/Deeze/Apple Music accounts, thanks to the Pre-Save Wisepage!
Indeed, the pre-save campaign is the most underrated marketing method you can use to promote your next release. Not only does it allow you to start building hype before a release and use the weeks leading up to it more effectively, but it also has a huge impact on how the Spotify algorithm rates your track. While it doesn’t impact editorial playlists, it does boost your release’s algorithm in the “Liked Songs” collection for example.
All information and more can be found at the Vox Feed Blog link below
https://blog.voxfeed.com/en/music-distribution/
https://www.wiseband.com/blog/how-to-succeed-in-your-first-digital-distribution/