What Should Featured Artists Do with DistroKid?

As a featured artist, understanding what you should do with DistroKid is essential to maximize your music’s reach and impact. DistroKid is a music distribution service that allows musicians to distribute their music to a plethora of streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and others. By knowing how to use DistroKid effectively, featured artists can foster collaborations, enhance their online presence, and facilitate the legal use of their music. This guide will help you navigate through the essentials of being a featured artist using DistroKid and how to allow others to use your song on YouTube.

Duties of a Featured Artist Using DistroKid

Being a featured artist entails more than just contributing vocals or production to a track. Here are some key responsibilities:

• Ensure Proper Credits: Make sure your contributions are properly credited on all distribution platforms. This includes correct tagging and metadata input to ensure your name appears alongside the main artist.
• Promote Collaborations: Actively promote the tracks you are featured on. Share them on your social media, include them in your email newsletters, and add them to your personal playlists.
• License Agreements: Clear any necessary licenses and agreements with the main artist or label. Ensure that your contributions are legally protected and appropriately compensated.
• Engage with Fans: Engage with your fanbase by creating content related to your collaborations, such as behind-the-scenes videos, live Q&A sessions, or snippet teasers.

How to Let Someone Use Your Song on YouTube with DistroKid

YouTube is one of the major platforms where artists can gain significant exposure. However, letting someone use your song on YouTube needs to be carefully managed to protect your rights. Here’s how you can manage this through DistroKid:

Step 1: Enable YouTube Content ID

DistroKid provides an option to enable YouTube Content ID, which helps in monitoring and monetizing your music on YouTube. By enabling this feature, any user-generated content that features your music can be tracked, and you can earn revenue from it. Here’s how to enable it:

1. Log in to your DistroKid account.
2. Go to "Your Music" section and select the track you wish to enable YouTube Content ID for.
3. Find the "YouTube Content ID" button and toggle it on. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Step 2: Provide Usage Permission

If you want to give someone explicit permission to use your song on YouTube, draft a clear, written agreement. This should include:

• Names of both parties (you and the video creator).
• Details of the song to be used.
• Specifics on how the music will be used (e.g., background music, intro, etc.).
• Duration of the permission (e.g., one-time use, perpetual).
• Monetization terms if applicable. Determine if you will share ad revenue generated from the video.

Send this agreement via email or a professional document sharing service and keep a record for any future reference.

Step 3: Register the Song on YouTube

Once you have given permission, encourage the video creator to register the song use with YouTube’s system. This involves them attributing the song properly in the video description with appropriate credits and links back to your work.

Step 4: Monitor and Manage

Stay vigilant by monitoring the video's performance and ensuring that your song is used according to the agreed terms. Periodically check for any other unauthorized uses of your music on YouTube and address them promptly through DistroKid’s YouTube Content ID policy.

Boosting Your Music Career Using SoundOn

Understanding the ins and outs of music distribution and collaboration can significantly benefit your career. While platforms like DistroKid offer incredible services, there are other platforms, like SoundOn, that provide a comprehensive service making global music distribution and promotion easier.

Register as a SoundOn artist to broaden your reach and take advantage of exclusive partnerships with platforms such as TikTok and CapCut. SoundOn offers robust marketing tools and analytics to help you understand and grow your fanbase effectively.

Conclusion

To sum up, being a featured artist on DistroKid involves more than just recording your part. Ensuring proper credits, promoting your collaborations, and managing legal agreements are fundamental. Moreover, giving permission for your music to be used on platforms like YouTube through DistroKid's Content ID and clear licensing agreements can spur your music career while protecting your rights.

For maximum exposure and advanced promotional tools, consider signing up with SoundOn. Utilizing these strategies can help you thrive as a featured artist in the ever-evolving music industry landscape.