Here we’ll explain what Digital Music Distribution is and how it works, plus we’ll explain the difference between digital music distributio...
Here we’ll explain what Digital Music Distribution is and how it works, plus we’ll explain the difference between digital music distribution and physical distribution.
Firstly, lets answer the basic question. What’s the difference between digital music distribution and physical music distribution?
Digital music distribution is the distribution of audio files in a digital format (mp3, aac, wav and more) to online music stores and digital streaming platforms like Spotify, Boomplay, Apple Music, and Amazon.
Physical music distribution is the distribution of physical music such as CDs or Vinyls to the likes of record stores and alike. Both digital and physical music distribution should play a big part in your music promotion and marketing efforts as a musician (or promoter).
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So, what does a digital music distributor do?
There are 2 main things a music distributor does:
1. Gets your music into music outlets
2. Collects sales or streaming data and your money from sales.
What is a ‘media outlet or ‘digital store’?
A media outlet/digital store is a platform where your music is sold, aired, or streamed online. Some examples: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play or streaming platforms like Spotify, Deezer or Apple Music.
Here’s a break down of the steps:
Step 1. Without going into the specifics, it usually works like this:
- You create an account and choose a distribution package.
- Upload your new music in Album, EP or Single structure.
- Enter specific details about you/your band, your release, splits etc.
- Choose the package or options – price, stores, release date etc.
- Pay – either a single upfront fee, yearly, and/or a % of royalties (money you make)
That’s step 1 in a nutshell for what’s needed from you.
From then the distributor verifies the media and data and sends it out to the selected media outlets in multiple territories around the world.
Step 2:
The distributor gathers all the sales and streaming data in a given period, that’s each and every sale or stream, for each track, from your music as well as every other artist’s music, from each of the digital stores and streaming sites and territories, and then processes it all.
The outcome? You guys will know it as a ‘Royalty Statement’ or ‘Sales Statement’ which gives each individual a downloadable statement of that periods music activity. Some digital distributors like us, will also provide analytical graphs and charts to view, study, plan or do as you please.
And finally, the royalties are paid to the artist, songwriter and publisher
