FAQ how do I arrange online music distribution?
Online distribution is an important part of promoting and distributing music. In the past, distribution was the process by which a distributor or artist ensured that the music was available in shops. At present, record companies and artists can sell directly to the consumer via the internet.
Online shops
The online shops today are streaming services like Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music (also referred to as DSPs or Digital Service Providers). Idagio is a streaming service specialized in classical music. Less popular are iTunes, Google Play or Amazon, where you can purchase the physical audio files. Bandcamp offers both options: it allows people to stream and/or buy your music. The choice is yours. You can place your music directly on all these platforms or make use of an aggregator, a kind of online distributor. An important feature of online distribution is that it gives you the opportunity to release your music worldwide at the same time.
International Standard Recording Code
In order to ensure that your rights remain protected, you register your music. You do this by means of an International Standard Recording Code (ISRC). This is a type of digital fingerprint that you attach to your music. The code consists of a country code, registrant code, year of reference and designation code. As master owner, you can apply for a code from Sena. Apply for the code/codes before you have your audio mastered, because then the engineer can embed the ISRCs in the master recordings. If you have a record deal, the label will in principle arrange the ISCRs.
After you have done this, and possibly applied for a barcode, you can find out more about the aggregators. These are websites on which you can upload your music, after which they will distribute it further to the DSPs and shops. A number of well-known aggregators are: Distrokid, CD Baby and Tunecore. When choosing an aggregator, pay attention to the following points:
- How much do I have to pay and is that an annual fee, for example?
- Will I receive all the royalties or will I have to split them?
- How does the payment work?
- Will I have access to the user data of my music?
- Can I delete my music easily?
- How are the planning options?
Spotify
Spotify is the most important player worldwide in the field of streaming and podcasts. This goes for pop music as well as classical music. If your music does well on Spotify, there is a chance that media attention will follow. As an artist, you try to get your music on playlists, because some of them have hundreds of thousands of followers! It is important to know that there are editors working at Spotify who compile the playlists. Their email addresses are well-protected, but you can speak to them at conferences for pop music like the Muzikantendag (Musicians’ Day) and Popcontakt.
It is important to keep your profile up to date and to get a ‘Verified’ checkmark. You do this via the Spotify for Artists portal. Here, you will also have access to your listeners and the option to change your photos and biography.
It is wise to register your music with the aggregator at least four weeks before the release. You can then bring your upcoming release to the attention of the editors via Spotify for Artists and assign keywords to your songs. Record labels and some distribution channels have a personal relationships with Spotify – which helps them when promoting their music.
The Spotify algorithm notices when your music is being streamed a lot, saved in playlists and when your profile is being followed a lot. This is reported and forwarded to the editors, which increase your chances of success. You can also create a playlist yourself with sources of inspiration, for example, and use your profile as a marketing instrument.