Does DistroKid copyright your music?

Yes, you need to pay for DistroKid. It operates on a subscription-based model, requiring an annual fee to distribute your music. Currently, the cost is $19.99 per year, allowing you to upload unlimited albums and tracks. One of the biggest advantages of DistroKid is that you keep 100% of your royalties. DistroKid provides an affordable way for independent artists to distribute their music while retaining full earnings. If you're looking to elevate your music career, check out our House Ghost Production services for high-quality tracks that can enhance your sound.

DistroKid is a reliable music distributor that sends your tracks to Shazam. When you distribute your music through DistroKid to Shazam, you will incur an annual fee per track. This service is crucial for artists looking to expand their reach on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Having your tracks on Shazam enhances discoverability, making it easier for listeners to identify your music when it’s played in a DJ set or venue. This increased accessibility can lead to more plays across streaming platforms, strengthening your presence in the competitive music industry.

DistroKid doesn’t promote your music. It is a distribution service that delivers your music to various online stores and streaming platforms, allowing you to handle promotion yourself. To effectively promote your music, it's essential to develop a well-planned strategy. A strong promotion strategy is key to successfully increasing your reach and audience.

When you release music through DistroKid, you receive royalties for streams and sales on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. DistroKid acts as your distributor, collecting royalties from digital stores and streaming services, then paying these out to your account. As a producer or artist, you can monitor your earnings in your DistroKid dashboard and request payouts in euros. The process is designed to make royalty collection and payment straightforward, so you can focus on your music while DistroKid handles the distribution and reporting.

If you stop paying for your DistroKid subscription, your music will usually be removed from streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. DistroKid notifies these platforms to take down your releases, so your tracks and albums become unavailable to listeners. You will still be able to log in to your DistroKid account and withdraw any royalties you have already earned, but you cannot upload new music or keep your catalog live without an active subscription.

To keep your music online after canceling, DistroKid offers an option to pay a one-time fee per release. This lets your tracks stay available even if your subscription ends. Always check your DistroKid account for the latest details on takedown timing and payout status.

DistroKid does not own your music. They do not take any ownership or credit for your tracks—DistroKid only distributes your music. The royalties generated by your music are collected by DistroKid and then distributed to the original owner.

DistroKid uploads your music to a wide range of major streaming platforms and digital stores, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, Pandora, TikTok, Instagram, and iHeartRadio. When you release a track through DistroKid, it is distributed to these platforms so listeners can find your music worldwide, whether you are a producer, DJ, or artist working with original tracks or ghost productions.

For producers and artists, this means your release is available on all the key platforms where fans actually listen. DistroKid’s distribution covers both mainstream and niche services, so your music can reach audiences on Spotify playlists, Apple Music libraries, TikTok videos, and even Instagram Stories. You do not need to manually upload to each service, DistroKid handles the delivery and metadata for you.

Every upload through DistroKid is processed for all supported platforms, maximizing your exposure and potential royalties. The service does not take a percentage of your streaming revenue, so you keep 100% of what you earn from these platforms. This makes DistroKid a practical choice for independent artists, labels, and ghost producers who want to control their catalog and earnings.

For more on DistroKid’s Spotify distribution, see Does DistroKid upload to Spotify?

TuneCore does not own your music. It is solely a distribution service and does not claim ownership of any music you distribute through its platform. TuneCore's role is to deliver your music to major online stores and streaming platforms, ensuring it reaches a wider audience.

To replace a file on DistroKid, you must delete the original release and upload a new version. DistroKid does not support direct audio swaps or file replacements for tracks that are already live. If you need to update a song or album, remove the release, then re-upload the corrected audio file as a new release. This process is essential for producers and DJs who want to fix a mix, master, or any audio issue after distribution.

Step-by-step: Replacing audio on DistroKid

• Log in to your DistroKid account and select the release you want to change.
• Delete the release. This removes your track from all streaming platforms.
• Re-upload your updated audio file as a new release. If you want to keep the same ISRC, record it before deletion and assign it manually if possible.

For more on deleting and reuploading, see Can you delete and reupload on DistroKid?.

How long does it take for changes to appear?

After re-uploading, your new track version usually appears on streaming services within 1-2 days. Metadata or playlist updates can take up to 1-2 weeks to fully update across all platforms. Plan your changes well before important release dates to avoid downtime.

Tips for producers and DJs

• There will be a period where your music is unavailable during the swap process.
• Always double-check your mix, master, and metadata before uploading to avoid repeated takedowns and reuploads.
• Keep your ISRC codes and release info organized for smoother transitions.

For more on DistroKid's copyright and rights, see Does DistroKid copyright your music?.

DistroKid operates globally, allowing your music to reach major streaming platforms. However, some restrictions may apply due to factors such as language, content, and licensing requirements.