13 things you need to know about DistroKid!

You do have to pay for DistroKid. DistroKid has a subscription based fee. Which means there is a yearly fee you’d have to pay in order to have DistroKid distributing your tracks. At the moment you have to pay $19,99 a year in order to upload unlimited albums and tracks. DistroKid lets you keep all royalties the music generates.

​DistroKid effectively serves as a music distributor, sending your tracks to Shazam. By choosing to distribute your music through DistroKid to Shazam, you will face an annual fee per track. This service is essential for artists aiming to get their music on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, thusening their music's reach. The main advantage of having your tracks on Shazam is the increased ease of discovery whenever your music is featured in a DJ set or played in a venue. This accessibility can lead to a higher play count across these platforms, amplifying your presence in the competitive music industry.

DistroKid doesn’t promote your music. DistroKid is a service that distribute your music to different online music stores and streaming platforms. This does allow you to promote your music yourself. In order to promote your music it’s a good idea to strategise your promotion efforts. A good promotion strategy is key to successfully promote your music.

You do get royalties from DistroKid, a leading music distributor and streaming service partner. DistroKid allows you to distribute your music for a fee, ensuring your tracks reach major platforms where they can earn streaming royalties. For example, when your music is streamed on Spotify, a notable streaming service, a small amount of money is generated in the form of performance royalties. These royalties are collected by DistroKid and are redistributed to you, often reflected in your payout. Through its efficient royalty collection process, DistroKid makes it easy to get your music on Spotify and other services, helping you keep track of your earnings reports and ensuring that royalties are promptly paid.

Once you stop paying the annual fee for your DistroKid subscription, DistroKid may remove your music from streaming services. You will still have access to your account and you will still get paid the earnings you owe.

DistroKid does not register songs for copyright. Neither do they register music with any Performance Rights organisation, or P.R.O for short. Distrokid only offers a way to distribute your music. 

DistroKid does not own your music. They do not take any ownership or credit for your tracks. DistroKid only distributes your music. The royalties that are generated by the music will be collected by DistroKid. After which DistorKid distributes to the original owner of the music.

DistroKid, a renowned digital music distribution service, ensures that your music seamlessly reaches major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Pandora, Amazon, Instagram, YouTube Music, Tidal, iHeartRadio, and Deezer, among many others. When you use DistroKid to upload and distribute music, especially by adding music to DistroKid, you can effortlessly ensure its presence on Pandora, YouTube, and numerous online stores and streaming services, thereby expanding your audience and reach.

Every time you upload music tracks or music videos to your DistroKid account, you're not only maximizing your exposure but also potential revenue. The standout feature is that DistroKid does not take a cut from your earnings, ensuring you get paid on a monthly basis. So, whether your forte is electronic music or any other genre, DistroKid is the prime choice for retaining full control of your digital music earnings and broadcasting it to the world.

If you need to make a revision to your release, such as replace audio, you can do so through DistroKid. For those wondering how to edit release on DistroKid, simply log into your account and select "Edit Release." From there, you'll be able to make the changes you need, including using DistroKid to delete a song or even an entire release if necessary.

Keep in mind, though, that it may take a few days for the revision to go through on all streaming services, and updates to your release's metadata could take up to 1-2 weeks. So if you're making a change close to your release date, it's best to plan accordingly.

But with DistroKid, you have the flexibility to make revisions even after your release has gone live. For additional support, you can always contact the DistroKid Help Center. Whether you're looking to replace an album or replace an audio file in DistroKid, the process is streamlined for your convenience.

DistroKid mostly operates worldwide. Your music can be distributed to major music services worldwide. There are some restrictions however. This can have multiple reasons concerning the language used, the overall content, licensing etc. 

Distrokid, a leading music distribution service, ensures that you, as an independent artist, do not lose any percentage of your earnings, minus banking fees and applicable taxes. You get to keep 100% of your hard-earned money, highlighting our commitment to helping you monetize your music effectively. When utilizing DistroKid's Youtube Money service, DistroKid only retains 20% of the ad-revenue from YouTube videos they successfully locate, guaranteeing you the remaining 80%. This transparent approach ensures that earnings from sales & streaming sites like iTunes, Spotify, and other music streaming services are entirely yours. Through this fair payout scheme, DistroKid stands as a notable distributor in the internet music world, offering significant benefits to artists navigating through various streaming platforms.

No, Distrokid does not take a percentage of your earnings. 100% of the earnings  goes directly into your account. 

You can also opt to release your ghost production with an aggregate service like CDbaby, Tunecore, Distrokid, etc. An aggregate service allows you to distribute music to many different music stores and services in the music industry. Everyone is able to use an aggregate service as long as you pay the fees. All royalties generated will be collected by the aggregate service and paid out.

DistroKid makes it easy for musicians to edit releases, a significant advantage in the music industry. Just log into your account and select 'DistroKid Change' under 'Edit Release.' Here, you'll find options to update your album art and other details essential for your presence as a Spotify artist. You can change your cover art, album cover art, and even the release date. Keep in mind that most stores take a couple of days to apply revisions, and metadata updates may take 1-2 weeks. If you need a quick change, contacting customer support is advisable. They can help you update your release quickly and efficiently.

To change the artwork for your tracks on DistroKid, follow these steps:​

1. Log in to your DistroKid account and go to the 'Tracks' tab.
2. Select the track you want to update the artwork for.
3. Click on the 'Artwork' tab in the left-hand menu.
4. Click on the 'Change Artwork' button to upload a new image for your track.
5. Once you've selected the new artwork, click 'Save' to update the album art for your track.

What are the technical specifications for DistroKid artwork?

How do I change the artwork for an individual track on DistroKid?

How do I change the artwork for an entire DistroKid release?

What should I do if my artwork is rejected by DistroKid?

It's always been a pain to have to delete a release once you've uploaded your music to DistroKid for streaming services stores like Spotify and Apple Music. If you spotted a mistake in your audio or metadata, you either had to cancel the entire release and start from scratch to re-upload, or live with the errors you made. But now, thanks to the new "edit release" feature, you can change audio and metadata in your music without having to delete and re-upload. Just click on the edit icon next to the release you want to change, and make your edits.

It's a small change, but it makes a big difference in terms of convenience and flexibility. So, if you're looking to make some changes to your music, don't hesitate to use this new feature from DistroKid.