Are you a musician looking to distribute your music online and collect royalties? DistroKid is a popular service that allows artists to easily upload their music to streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and more. But how exactly does DistroKid collect royalties for its users? In this article, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about how DistroKid collects royalties and ensures that artists get paid for their music.
What is DistroKid?
DistroKid is a music distribution service that allows musicians to upload their music to online streaming platforms and digital stores. Founded in 2013, DistroKid has quickly become a popular choice for independent artists looking to get their music out to a wide audience. With DistroKid, artists can upload unlimited songs and albums for a yearly fee, and keep 100% of their royalties.
One of the key benefits of using DistroKid is its streamlined process for distributing music. Artists can upload their music to DistroKid’s platform, and DistroKid takes care of the rest, ensuring that the music is delivered to all major streaming platforms and digital stores. DistroKid also provides tools for artists to track their music’s performance and collect royalties.
How Does DistroKid Collect Royalties?
When a musician uploads their music to DistroKid, DistroKid collects royalties on their behalf from streaming platforms and digital stores. DistroKid then distributes these royalties to the artist, minus a small commission fee. DistroKid collects royalties through a process known as music publishing administration, which involves tracking the usage of a song and ensuring that the artist gets paid for each stream or download.
One of the ways that DistroKid collects royalties is through performance rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP and BMI. These organizations collect royalties on behalf of artists when their music is played on radio, television, or in live performances. DistroKid works with PROs to ensure that artists receive their fair share of royalties for their music.
In addition to collecting royalties from PROs, DistroKid also collects royalties directly from streaming platforms and digital stores. DistroKid tracks the usage of a musician’s music on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, and collects royalties based on the number of streams or downloads. DistroKid then distributes these royalties to the artist on a regular basis.
How Does DistroKid Ensure Artists Get Paid?
DistroKid has a team of experts who are dedicated to ensuring that artists get paid for their music. DistroKid uses sophisticated tracking technology to monitor the usage of a musician’s music on streaming platforms and digital stores. This technology allows DistroKid to accurately track the number of streams and downloads, and ensure that artists are paid accordingly.
In addition to tracking music usage, DistroKid also has a team of music publishing experts who work with artists to ensure that their music is properly registered with PROs and other royalty collection agencies. This ensures that artists receive all of the royalties they are entitled to for their music.
Furthermore, DistroKid provides artists with detailed reports on their music’s performance, including information on streaming numbers, revenue earned, and more. This allows artists to track the success of their music and make informed decisions about their music career.
Conclusion
DistroKid is a valuable tool for musicians looking to distribute their music online and collect royalties. With its streamlined distribution process and dedicated team of experts, DistroKid ensures that artists get paid for their music and have the tools they need to track their music’s performance. Whether you’re a new artist just starting out or an established musician looking to reach a wider audience, DistroKid can help you get your music out to the world and start earning royalties.
FAQs
1. How much does DistroKid charge for distributing music?
DistroKid offers a variety of pricing plans for musicians, starting at $19.99 per year for unlimited song uploads. The price may vary depending on the plan chosen, but all plans allow artists to keep 100% of their royalties.
2. How often does DistroKid pay out royalties to artists?
DistroKid pays out royalties to artists on a monthly basis, typically around the 15th of each month. Artists can track their earnings and view detailed reports on their DistroKid dashboard.
3. Can artists track the performance of their music on streaming platforms?
Yes, DistroKid provides artists with detailed reports on their music’s performance, including streaming numbers, revenue earned, and more. Artists can use this information to track the success of their music and make informed decisions about their music career.
4. Does DistroKid work with international artists?
Yes, DistroKid works with artists from around the world. Artists can upload their music to DistroKid regardless of their location, and DistroKid will ensure that they receive royalties for their music.
5. How does DistroKid compare to other music distribution services?
DistroKid is known for its ease of use, affordable pricing, and quick distribution process. Compared to other music distribution services, DistroKid offers a simple and straightforward way for artists to get their music out to a wide audience and start earning royalties.
