How Music Distribution Companies Help Artists Reach Global Audiences

According to the IFPI report, music distributors are key in bringing artists to the international market through platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. By partnering with music distributors such as MusicAlligator, SoundOn, Distrokid, CD Baby, ONErpm, LANDR, Indiefy, and Amuse, artists can ensure that their music reaches a global audience.

Music distributors place music on platforms where songs become popular and spread from user to user. In this way, the artist can build a reputation and monetize his music. Functions of a music distributor:

• Uploading music to online platforms: music distributors contract with international music platforms, social networks, and local services available in certain countries of the world;
• Finance management: music distributors handle all aspects of payments, from paying royalties to artists to collecting commissions in exchange for their services;
• Support and promote the release: music distributors create a promotional plan and offer the options and tools necessary to promote the music with additional support, products, and services.

Distributors also support the artist at all stages of music realization. They can provide the artist with advice and guidance on promoting and developing their work, building their personal brand, and receiving their first royalties.

Why do artists use music platforms?

Distribution and monetization of music to a broad audience is possible by optimizing the process. These platforms manage metadata and rights management, royalty collection, and reporting, taking many responsibilities off the hands of artists. Music distribution services offer some other features and benefits to expand artist opportunities.

• Globality: the variety of streaming services allows to reach a maximum of users from all parts of the world;
• Freedom and independence: with music distributors, artists are not tied to schedules and time constraints, label requirements and restrictions;
• Data-driven analytics: by publishing music on music platforms, artists can analyze where their listeners are, which songs are more popular, and more.

Another essential advantage of music platforms is their accessibility to established and aspiring artists. As a result, users can listen to lesser-known songs on music platforms on an equal footing with better-known ones. This advantage is possible due to better discoverability and improved search algorithms.

How music distributors promote artists 

Music marketing through various methods allows artists to reach and engage their target audience. To do this, a music distributor can:

• Build a personal brand: a music distributor can deal with social media profiles, content posted, collaborations with other artists, and more;
• Use marketing and promotion tools: music streaming services offer targeted advertising, playlist placement, social media promotion, and email newsletters;
• Establish physical distribution: despite the demand for digital music, vinyl and CDs remain relevant for many people.

Thus, using music distributors’ services today is one of the most effective ways of personal promotion. A more effective way of music promotion is live performances, concerts, and interviews, where the artist can communicate live with an already established fan base.