Is Distrokid Still Worth It? – A Complete Artist Review

Distrokid is a great company when it comes to getting your music on streaming platforms quickly with even the smallest of budgets. That being said, which music distributer you choose depends a lot on your specific needs and situation, and in this article I will help you figure out if Distrokid is the right one for you.

As someone who has been using Distrokid as an artist for over 5 years, and having released over 30 songs with them, I can confidently say that I have a strong understanding of what they have to offer artists, what they can still work on, as well as what they are currently working on.

I’m sure you are aware of the fact that no distribution company is perfect, but I think it’s important to think about whether or not they check enough of the boxes that matter to you. I have gathered data on what aspects of music distribution are most important to an artist and this includes

• Cost
• User Interface
• Cover Song Licensing
• Song Promotion
• Customer Support

Before we dive into analyzing the different aspects of Distrokid, let’s first discuss what exactly their company was designed to do.

The Goal Of A Music Distribution Company

A music distribution company, also known as a digital music distributor, is a company that helps independent musicians, record labels, and artists distribute their music to various online platforms and stores like Spotify, Youtube Music, Apple Music, etc. Their primary role is to facilitate the process of getting music from the creators into the hands and ears of consumers and fans through digital distribution.

Most distribution companies may charge fees or take a percentage of the revenue generated from music sales and streams as compensation for their services. The specific terms and fees can vary from one distribution company to another, so musicians and labels tend to choose a distributor that aligns best with their unique goals and needs.

Now let’s explore what Distrokid has to offer and how they compare to similar services on the market.

Cost

When it comes to the cost of releasing music with Distrokid, it’s going to be difficult to find a better price elsewhere. For just $22.99 a year, you can upload an unlimited amount of songs and albums. The one drawback is that if you stop paying for your subscription then your music will be removed from all stores. However, they do have a legacy option that allows you to play a flat fee of $49 per album or $29 per single to keep your song on streaming services forever.

How Easy Is Distrokid To Use?

One of the biggest complaints that users seem to have about the Distrokid platform and dashboard is that it can appear basic and outdated. As you can see below, the their layout is very simple. However, because of this there is not much you can do to mess things up when you are trying to upload music and use their artist tools. If you like simple, yet straightforward content without a lot of flash, then Distrokid is a probably great option for you.

The homepage has a list of all currently uploaded music. If you want to make any edits or changes to any of it, then you just need to click on the specific single or album. From the homepage you can also check your music statistics, manage your royalty splits, upgrade your plan, check your streaming revenue, and access several useful tools that are available in the dropdown menu on the right. It might not be pretty but it has everything you need to get the job done.

Marketing and Song Promotion

Perhaps one of the most important and most difficult things for an artist is finding a way to get exposure for their music. It is quite typical for a large distribution company to offer resources such as playlist pitching, advertising agency access, or advertising campaign possibilities. However, Distrokid does not offer much when it comes to artist promotion. They have some tools that help you promote your own music but that is pretty much the extent of it. I think the reason is because Distrokid does not take a percentage of your streaming royalties, which means that they are not highly incentivized financially when you grow as an artist. They will make the same amount of money whether you have 100 monthly listeners or a million. This could either be a great thing or a bad thing for you depending on your situation.

Cover Song Licensing With Distrokid

Arguably the best thing about Distrokid for a lot of artists is the fact that they allow you to upload your own cover of another artist’s song on streaming platforms and you can make royalties from it. It costs $12 a year and you split the royalties with the original artist, but they make it extremely easy and it is a service that is not typically this easy or cheap to find.

Distrokid’s Customer Service

When you are having an issue, it’s important that a company has a strong customer service center so that problems can be resolved quickly and painlessly, allowing you to spend more time on your music. I have had to contact Distrokid’s customer support several times throughout the years to resolve various issues, and they have always responded in a timely and helpful manner. Whether it’s removing a song from a specific store, or fixing a glitch, I can tell you that they will not just leave you on your own.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, there is a reason that Distrokid has so many users and such a high public appeal. You just can’t beat what they offer at the price they offer it. Obviously when a company is offering some of the cheapest distribution on the market, you can’t reasonably expect them to tick every single box, but I feel that they give you a great amount of value for the cost.

Every year they add new tools and features to their website to help artists promote their music and build their brand. I think they are slowly inching towards competing with the larger and more powerful distribution companies like CDBaby but at a fraction of the cost. This is becoming more evident as Distrokid recently announced their purchase of BandZoogle, a music promotion company.

If you are currently trying to decide between music distribution companies, I genuinely hope I was able to help you out in some way.

If you do decide that Distrokid is the right choice for you, you can use This Link to sign up and receive 7% off!

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