As an artist, it’s important to get your music out there to as many people as possible. This is where digital music distribution comes in. With digital music distribution, you can make your music available for streaming or purchasing online.
Music distribution is a great way to reach a larger audience and grow your fan base. According to a study, the industry is expected to be valued at USD 37.61 billion in 2027. There is undoubtedly a huge potential. However, before you can start distributing your music, there are a few things you need to know. In this quick guide, we’ll go over everything you need to get started with digital music distribution.
How Music Distribution Works
When you distribute your music digitally, you’re making it available for streaming or purchase through online platforms. These platforms are typically music streaming services or digital retailers. When a user accesses your music on one of these platforms, they can either stream it or purchase it.
There are two main ways to distribute your music: through a digital distributor or directly to digital retailers.
Digital distributors are companies that will help you get your music onto multiple digital platforms. They usually charge a fee for their services, but they can save you a lot of time and effort. Once you’ve uploaded your music to a digital distributor, they’ll handle getting it on all the major platforms for you.
If you want more control over where your music is distributed, you can distribute it directly to digital retailers. This requires a bit more work on your part, but it can be worth it if you want to specifically target certain platforms.
Benefits of Music Distribution
There are a few key benefits of digital music distribution.
Reach a Larger Audience
When you make your music available on popular streaming platforms, you’ll be able to reach a much larger audience than if you only sell your music through physical stores. And the more people who hear your music, the more likely it is that you’ll find new fans.
Grow Your Fan Base
As you reach more people with your music, you’ll also have the opportunity to grow your fan base. When people can easily listen to your music and purchase it online, they’re more likely to become fans and follow you on social media, buy your merchandise, and come to your live shows.
Make Money from Your Music
Digital music distribution can also be a great way to make money from your music. When people stream or purchase your music, you’ll earn royalties. And if you sell your music directly to digital retailers, you’ll keep 100% of the sales revenue.
Control How and Where Your Music Is Distributed
If you distribute your music directly to digital retailers, you’ll have more control over where your music is distributed. This can be helpful if you want to specifically target certain platforms or regions.
Get Your Music Heard by Industry Professionals
When you make your music available on popular streaming platforms, it will be heard by industry professionals who could help further your career. For example, Spotify curators can add your music to popular playlists, which can expose you to a larger audience.
Analyze Your Listening Data
When you distribute your music digitally, you’ll be able to track how many people are listening to your music and where they’re located. This data can be helpful in planning your marketing strategy and understanding what type of music your fans like.
Conclusion
By following the steps in this quick guide, you can get started with digital music distribution and start sharing your music with the world.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships.Along with his work at MuzicSwipe, he also conducts in-depth interviews with prominent entrepreneurs on his weekly podcast “FULLSPEED.” Eric also dedicates himself to educational initiatives through the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” which provides four scholarships to US-based students. Keep track of Eric’s endeavors on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,YouTube, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.