It used to be that if you were an unsigned musician trying to gain a following, you would record and burn your own CDs and give them out at live shows. While there is still certainly nothing stopping you from doing this now, the easiest way to listen to music these days is through streaming platforms or downloads. This means that instead of burning a stack of CDs to give away at your next show, you would be better off uploading your music on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, or even YouTube, but that’s still often not enough to distribute your music. They certainly get your music out there, but it’s not exactly distribution. If you really want people to hear your music and receive some revenue for it, you need to get onto streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music.
Working with Music Distribution Services
Making it onto the biggest and most popular music streaming platforms is tough for an unsigned musician, which is why you should work with a music distribution service. A music distribution service can get your music onto platforms such as Spotify or iTunes for either an upfront fee or a percentage of your streaming earnings. There are plenty of distribution services out there with slightly different business models and fees, so it’s important to do your homework and read all the fine print before you decide which one is right for you. They also don’t all work with every streaming service, so you need to keep that in mind if it’s more important for you to be on Spotify than Apple Music.
A single stream will earn you an average of half a cent. That certainly doesn’t sound like much, but it is something, and it does add up over time. Besides, the biggest advantage of having your music streamed is that more people get to hear it. This means more fans who might pay to download songs from you and pay to see you live.
Claiming Your Artist Account
When you do manage to get onto a streaming service, make sure to claim your artist account on the platform. This will allow you to see up-to-date information on how often your songs are being streamed, post status updates, edit your bio, and otherwise have a little more control over your music. You may be working with third parties to get your music out to the masses, but it is still your music, and you deserve to own it.