How to Distribute Your Own Music?

As an independent artist, distributing your own music can be a daunting task. The music industry has evolved, and digital platforms are now the primary means of reaching a global audience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to distribute your music and explore which music streaming service is the best for your needs.

Steps to Distribute Your Own Music

Before diving into the various platforms available, it’s essential to understand the basic steps involved in music distribution:

1. Prepare Your Music

The first step is to ensure your music is of high quality. This means professionally recorded, mixed, and mastered. The better the quality, the more likely it will appeal to listeners and streaming service curators.

2. Choose Your Distributor

Distributors act as the middlemen between artists and music streaming services. They ensure your music gets uploaded and properly formatted for each platform. Some popular distributors include SoundOn, Tunecore, Distrokid, CD Baby, ONErpm, LANDR, Indiefy, and Amuse.

3. Submit Your Music

Once you’ve chosen a distributor, you’ll need to upload your tracks, complete with relevant metadata such as song titles, artist name, genre, release date, and ISRC codes. The distributor will then submit your music to streaming services on your behalf.

4. Promote Your Release

Promotion is key to getting your music heard. Utilize social media, email lists, music blogs, and other marketing strategies to spread the word about your release. Consider registering as a SoundOn artist to take advantage of their marketing and distribution services.

5. Track Your Performance

After your music is live, continually track its performance. Most distributors provide analytics tools to help you understand how your tracks are performing across different platforms. Use this data to tweak your promotion strategies and improve future releases.

Which is the Best Music Streaming Service?

With numerous music streaming services available, choosing the right one can be challenging. Here are some of the most popular platforms and their features to help you decide:

1. Spotify

One of the most well-known music streaming services, Spotify provides extensive reach and robust analytics. Its curated playlists can significantly boost an artist's exposure. Also, getting featured on popular playlists can lead to a surge in streams and fan base growth.

2. Apple Music

Apple Music offers high-quality streaming and is integrated with the Apple ecosystem, making it a preferable choice for Apple device users. Its curated playlists and radio shows can also provide good exposure for artists.

3. Amazon Music

Amazon Music is a rapidly growing platform that benefits from integration with Amazon’s vast ecosystem. It offers different tiers of service, including a high-definition streaming option that appeals to audiophiles.

4. YouTube Music

YouTube Music leverages the massive user base of YouTube, making it a powerful platform for music discovery. It allows artists to upload music videos and audio tracks, providing a versatile way to reach an audience.

5. Tidal

Known for its high-fidelity sound quality and artist-centric approach, Tidal offers better royalty payments compared to many other services. It also features exclusive content, which can be a significant draw for fans.

6. Deezer

Deezer is another major music streaming service that provides a vast library of tracks and personalized recommendations. It also offers Hi-Fi streaming for listeners seeking higher audio quality.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best music streaming service depends on your goals and the specific features you value. Whether it’s the broad reach of Spotify, the integration with the Apple ecosystem on Apple Music, or the high-quality streaming on Tidal, each platform has unique advantages.

The key to successful music distribution lies in a well-prepared release plan, choosing the right distribution platform, and leveraging the power of multiple streaming services to maximize your reach. Register with SoundOn to start your journey in distributing your own music and finding new fans through their global distribution service and exclusive partnerships.