Is Distrokid a Publisher? Understanding Distrokid Royalties

As an independent artist navigating the music industry, selecting the right distribution platform is crucial to successfully share your music with the world. Among the major players in the market, questions often arise around specific services and their scope. One frequent inquiry is: Is Distrokid a publisher? Additionally, many artists want to understand how Distrokid royalties work.

In this article, we’ll explore the role of Distrokid in the music industry, clarify whether it functions as a publisher, and provide a comprehensive overview of how royalties generated through Distrokid are managed.

Is Distrokid a Publisher?

To answer this question, it’s essential to understand the difference between a music distributor and a music publisher. A music distributor's primary role is to distribute music to various digital streaming platforms (DSPs) like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. This helps make the artist's work accessible to a broad audience.

On the other hand, a music publisher is responsible for the copyright management, licensing, promotion, and collection of royalties on behalf of the songwriter or composer. Based on this distinction, Distrokid is classified as a music distributor, not a music publisher.

Distrokid’s core offering is to distribute an artist’s music across numerous DSPs, ensuring your tracks reach listeners worldwide. However, it does not handle the intricate details of copyright management or publishing rights administration. Therefore, acts such as licensing your music for use in TV shows or movies, or representing your publishing rights, are not services that Distrokid covers.

Distrokid Royalties Explained

Understanding how royalties work with Distrokid is crucial for any independent artist aiming for financial success. Royalties are earnings generated whenever your music is streamed, downloaded, or used commercially. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how Distrokid handles royalties:

1. Streaming Royalties

When your music is streamed on DSPs like Spotify or Apple Music, you earn streaming royalties. Distrokid collects these royalties from the respective platforms and pays them directly to the artists. The earnings per stream can vary depending on the platform and listener's region, but Distrokid ensures that you receive 100% of your streaming royalties, minus any applicable fees.

2. Download Sales

Royalties are also generated from sales of your music through platforms like iTunes or Amazon Music. Distrokid collects these sales revenues and distributes them to you. Similar to streaming royalties, Distrokid does not take a cut of your sales; you receive the full amount of your download sales minus any DSP fees.

3. Synchronization Licenses

Synchronization royalties are earned when your music is used in visual media like movies, TV shows, ads, and video games. While Distrokid does not act as a music publisher or handle licensing for sync deals, it can help you connect with services that do. Any synchronization revenue requires direct management between you and a publisher or licensee.

4. YouTube Monetization

Distrokid offers an optional service for YouTube monetization. By opting into this service, Distrokid automatically collects ad revenue generated from your music being used in YouTube videos. This includes Content ID management, which tracks and collects earnings from user-generated content featuring your music.

5. Mechanical Royalties

These royalties are accrued through the physical sale of music (CDs, vinyl) and some digital formats. Distribution platforms like Distrokid facilitate the collection of mechanical royalties from digital sales, ensuring artists are compensated for reproductions of their work.

Tips for Maximizing Royalties with Distrokid

Here are some strategies to optimize your earnings from music distribution:

• Leverage Social Media: Promote your releases aggressively on social media platforms to garner more streams and attention.
• Submit to Playlists: Playlist placements can significantly increase your streams. Ensure that you pitch your tracks for playlist inclusion on major DSPs.
• Optimize Metadata: Accurate metadata (like song titles, artist names, and genre classification) ensures your music is discovered easily by listeners.
• Engage with Fans: Maintain an active relationship with your fan base. Engaged fans are more likely to stream your music and purchase your downloads.
• Explore Multiple Revenue Streams: Don’t just rely on streaming and downloads. Consider physical sales, sync licensing, and other revenue opportunities.

Conclusion

While Distrokid is not a music publisher, it plays a significant role as a music distributor, helping artists distribute their music globally and collect royalties efficiently. By understanding how Distrokid handles royalties, you can maximize your earnings and take further steps towards building a successful music career.

If you're looking to get your music out there and earn royalties, you may also consider registering as a SoundOn artist. Our global distribution service leverages partnerships with TikTok and CapCut to enhance your reach. Register here: SoundOn.