Releasing Independent Music? Here are Some Great Online Distribution Platforms to Consider.
Now more than ever, artists are forgoing the traditional record label path in favor of releasing music as an independent artist. There are countless advantages to releasing music independently, including having greater control over the content you put out and having more access to the money your music earns.
However, it can be a little bit difficult to figure out how to get your music out in the world as an independent artist.
Figuring out how to get your new record on Spotify, the iTunes store, Pandora, and other digital platforms can be difficult as a musician when you don’t have a distributor or record label to guide you through the process.
Since the rise of digital music and streaming platforms in recent years, many online music distribution companies have been created to assist artists in distributing and promoting their music online.
Some of these sites will allow you to release your music to sites like Spotify for as low as $9.95, while others charge a little more for added benefits and services.
Since these music distribution sites can be difficult to navigate and figure out which service is right for your music, we’ve compiled a list of the top websites for digital distribution and what they have to offer. Keep reading to learn more about where you should go to release your music online!
Price: $19.99/year
One of the most prominent music distribution platforms in the online landscape today is definitely DistroKid. DistroKid is probably one of the cheapest sites out there: you can distribute unlimited music through them for just $19.99/year.
Since a lot of other websites charge per release, they are a great value if you expect to release a large volume of music over the course of the year. Additionally, DistroKid has a fast turnaround.
For example, it only takes a couple of days to get a new song uploaded to Spotify. Also, DistroKid has been constantly evolving and adding new features and packages as social media platforms have changed over the years. Some of their current features include TikTok integration and YouTube monetization for your music.
However, one downside to DistroKid is that you can’t customize your record label name in the Spotify info section for your music. Instead, it will show up as a randomly generated DistroKid Code. Since the site is so much cheaper than a lot of others, this flaw seems like a small price to pay, but it’s up to each individual artist to decide what’s right for them.
Price: $49.99 yearly after the first year
TuneCore is another one of the major online music distributors in today’s market. They are a bit pricier than some other websites, but they are a well-established site with high quality services that has helped a lot of independent artists over the years.
Like every website mentioned on this list, they allow artists to keep 100% of the royalties from their music. TuneCore’s pricing is a bit different than some other websites: they charge a yearly fee for every piece of music you put out.
For albums, this fee is $29.99 for the first year, and $49.99 for each following year. For singles, it’s $9.99 per year.
The downside to this system is that if you don’t continue to pay this yearly fee, your music will be removed from streaming platforms. However, they do allow you to use your music’s earnings to pay these fees, so if you expect that a release will make a decent amount of money, TuneCore could be right for you.
Price: $19.00/year
Ditto is a record label and online music distribution service based in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Ditto is one of the cheaper sites on this list, but it also has a lot of additional features, some of which cost extra. However, they seem to be one of the sites with the most additional features for artists to utilize.
Ditto offers standard add-ons like YouTube certification, pre-releases, and promotions for an added price. Additionally, they have options on the site to start your own mini record label through the site, which could make dealing with business easier as an independent artist.
Most importantly, Ditto has an amazing section of advice for independent artists on their website, which can be viewed whether or not you’ve chosen Ditto as your distributor.
- CDBaby
Price: ranges from $9.95-$69.00
Although CDBaby is on the pricier side for music distribution services, it is a tried-and-true standard in the industry and quality service is pretty much guaranteed. Artists who have used CDBaby to release their music in the past include Ingrid Michaelson, Aloe Blacc, and Two Steps from Hell. Unlike TuneCore, another site that’s a little more expensive, CDBaby charges no annual fees.
Instead, packages for a single range from $9.95-$29.95, and packages for an album range from $29.00-$69.00. This way, artists can choose a package based on their specific needs and financial situation. However, it is important to note that the cheaper packages don’t include worldwide publishing royalty collection like the more expensive packages do.
Even still, CDBaby is a solid site that’s worth checking out if you’re exploring the idea of online distribution. Additionally, they also have guides and tips on their website to further promote your music, which are extremely useful for independent artists just starting out.
In Conclusion
Overall, it’s hard to choose a distribution website as an independent artist just starting out, but the websites on this list are a great place to start looking.
Though each site is slightly different and varies in price, they all uphold one of the most important music distribution guarantees: that you’ll get to keep 100% of your royalties!
You’ll want to select a site depending on your level of experience and the expected level of engagement with your new release. In the end, you’ll be able to quickly and easily release music for your friends, family, and fanbase to listen to and enjoy online!
