Is DistroKid Free and How Do Royalties Work?

The digital age has revolutionized the music industry, opening new doors for artists to distribute their music widely and reach global audiences. Platforms like DistroKid have made it easier for musicians to get their music on major digital streaming platforms. But a common question is "Is DistroKid free?" and "How do DistroKid royalties work?" Here's everything you need to know.

Is DistroKid Free?

No, DistroKid is not a free music distribution platform. While DistroKid offers a relatively affordable service compared to other distributors, it still requires a subscription fee to distribute your music. They offer various pricing tiers depending on the features and number of artists under an account. Here's a brief breakdown of their pricing:

• Musician Plan: $19.99 per year for a single artist or band.
• Musician Plus Plan: $35.99 per year allowing two artist profiles.
• Label Plans: Starting from $79.99 per year, which can include multiple artists.

These pricing plans grant artists an unlimited distribution of tracks to various digital platforms for the duration of the subscription. While DistroKid does not charge per release or take a commission from the artist’s earnings, the flat fee covers all uploads.

DistroKid Royalties

One of the significant advantages of using DistroKid is that they allow artists to keep 100% of their royalties. Unlike some other music distribution services that might take a cut from your earnings, DistroKid pays out the full amount of revenue earned from digital streaming platforms directly to the artist.

However, understanding the royalty payment process can be a bit convoluted. Here’s a simplified overview of how DistroKid royalties work:

Distributing Your Music

When you upload your music through DistroKid, the platform distributes it to various digital streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more. These services then make your music available to stream and download.

Earning Royalties

Each time a listener streams or downloads your music, the streaming service pays a certain amount in royalties. These rates can vary significantly between platforms, and the payout per stream is often fractions of a cent. However, with enough streams, the revenue can add up.

Receiving Payments

The streaming services pay DistroKid on a regular basis, typically monthly or quarterly, for the revenue generated by your music. DistroKid then allocates these funds to your account. Artists can withdraw their earnings anytime, and there is no minimum payout threshold.

Royalty Splits

If you are collaborating with other artists, DistroKid offers a feature called "Teams" to automatically split the royalties. You can set the percentage each collaborator should receive, and DistroKid handles the rest. This streamlines the process and ensures that everyone gets their fair share.

Alternatives to DistroKid

While DistroKid is a popular choice, it is not the only music distribution service available. Alternatives such as TuneCore, CD Baby, ONErpm, and SoundOn offer different pricing models and features. Each distributor has its own pros and cons, so it's essential to research and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Maximizing Your Earnings

To maximize your earnings as an artist, it's crucial to not only rely on streaming revenue but also to engage in active promotion. Platforms like TikTok, SoundOn, and other social media channels are excellent for reaching new audiences and driving more streams to your music.

Becoming a SoundOn artist is one way to leverage comprehensive marketing and distribution services. SoundOn helps you build your career and connect fans through various digital platforms, increasing your music's visibility and potential earnings.

Conclusion

While DistroKid is not free, it provides a valuable service for musicians looking to distribute their music widely and retain 100% of their royalties. Understanding how royalties work is essential for maximizing your revenue and ensuring fair payments for all collaborators. Using additional promotion tools and platforms can further enhance your reach and success in the music industry.