Music Distribution
Getting your music onto Spotify, Apple Music, and every major platform through digital distribution services.
What It Is
Digital distribution is how independent artists get music on streaming platforms. Aggregators like DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, and Amuse upload your tracks to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube Music, JioSaavn, Gaana, and 50+ platforms. Choose between per-release pricing (TuneCore) or annual unlimited (DistroKid). Each has different royalty splits and features.
How It Works
You upload your finished, mastered tracks to a distribution service along with metadata — song title, artist name, album art, genre tags, ISRC codes, and credits. The distributor delivers your music to every major streaming platform and digital store. Once live, streams generate royalties that flow back through the distributor to you, minus their cut. Some distributors also offer additional services like publishing administration, sync licensing, and promotional tools.
Who Does It Well
Independent artists worldwide use distributors to bypass the traditional label model. Artists like Chance the Rapper built entire careers through self-distribution. In India, artists like Prateek Kuhad and When Chai Met Toast have used distribution platforms effectively alongside label partnerships to maintain control over their catalog and reach both global and regional audiences.
For Musicians
Pick a distributor and stick with one — splitting releases across distributors fragments your profile. Ensure metadata is perfect — artist name spelling, ISRC codes, genre tags, credits. In India, JioSaavn and Gaana are essential platforms alongside global ones. Some Indian distributors (Believe India, Ditto Music India) offer better regional platform relationships. Release consistently rather than dropping everything at once.