If you’re here because you’ve created your first track or album, then good for you because that’s the hardest part done! It can be an overwhelming process, but distributing your music doesn’t have to be difficult.
Must haves to release a track
As mentioned, the hardest part is done. All the hours planning your lyrics, finding the right software and equipment, recording and re-recording, mixing, mastering – it’s all lead you to this moment. You’ll finally get to send your friends your music via a streaming link.
Before you find a music distributor, there are a few things to consider. The metadata for your track is a big one. You need to ensure you’ve got the correct artist names written down if there’s more than just you within your tracks.
Once uploaded to stores, this information can be altered, but it can come at a wait, so to avoid any awkwardness, make sure all the information is correct. Do you have adult language within your music? If so, make sure the tracks are marked as explicit.
A huge one people often overlook is the album artwork. Remember, this is almost as important as the music itself because this is what people see when looking for your music. It sets a scene, it let’s people know how you feel about the music.
For example, a heartbreak album wouldn’t likely have fluffy animals playing in a field. It would have emotion and feeling behind the imagery. Your artwork should tell the same story as your songs. Some music artists don’t consider their artwork.
Choosing a distributor
Another important decision is your music distributor. It might not matter too much to you if you want your music on a few large stores. However, if you’re looking to release on some smaller, lesser known platforms, you will need to check this is possible.
Not every music distributor releases to every store. Some have area restrictions, others simply don’t deal with every company. If a store is particularly important, then double check before committing to the distribution process.
Once your music is in stores, you’ll need to get in touch with the company to have it removed, and this can take time. So, make sure you’re happy with the distributor first. We’d always recommend our partners RouteNote for distribution.
Check their wait times if you’re in a hurry. Some distributors have more work than others and therefore, they might be experiencing a backlog or a delay. If you need a quick turnaround, you might have to factor this into your decision.
Fees are another thing. Check with the stores about how much they charge for distribution. Some will take a cut, while others will ask for a direct payment. The amount charged will vary between distributors, so look around to see what works best for you. Remember, cheap isn’t always best.
Once you have these things covered, you’re ready to upload your music to the distribution website. Every distributor will have their own process. From upload, to moderation, they’ll all work slightly differently, so please check their Support platforms and guides. Follow their steps and you shouldn’t have difficulty uploading!
