Choosing a Digital Music Distributor

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There are multitudes of digital music distributors available for independent artists to choose from. With so many options available, artists don't have to settle for a distributor that doesn't meet their needs. There are multiple factors to take into consideration, but here are a few to keep in mind while weighing your options.

1) Where do you want your music available?

• Do you want your music on Instagram & Facebook Stories?

• Do you want your music on TikTok? Tidal? Amazon?

• Do you want your music on Gaana? Saayn?

• Do you want your music on Spotify? Google Play? Deezer?

Knowing where you want your listeners to be able to find your music can help you narrow down your options to choose a distributor that distributes to your platforms of choice.

2) What are the prices or fees?

• Do you pay per project?

• Do you have to share your royalties?

• Do you have to pay an annual or monthly subscription?

Find out how a distributor collects their money. Some have subscription based pricing, some charge when you release a project, some offer free tiers with conditions. Some take a percentage of your royalties. Once you know how they get paid, you can decide what you're comfortable agreeing to.

3) How long will your project be available?

• Will your project remain available into perpetuity?

• Will you have to pay the distributor annually to keep the project available on the platforms?

Some distributors require an annual fee to keep your project on digital platforms. While sales are usually highest within the first year, if it is removed from platforms after that you may lose out on potential fans who discover your music later down the line.

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