
Discover how digital distribution gets your music on Spotify and Apple Music, with distribution models, publishing steps, and how to collect revenue.
Discover how distribution has evolved from labels to independent routes, and learn how to get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming stores worldwide.
Take notes on essential tools and distribution resources; no special tools are required, keep finished, mixed, and mastered tracks ready, and sign up for distribution websites to publish your music.
Promote careful contract review by consulting a lawyer before signing, and prioritize your situation and your lawyer's advice over online opinions.
Explore how major labels held the distribution infrastructure in the 90s, shaping independent artists' DIY touring and physical CD sales, with licensing deals opening access to their networks.
Explore how independent labels partner with major distribution infrastructures, such as Sony or Naxos, to place music in stores and on streaming platforms.
Explains the distribution-alone model where distribution companies sign acts and offer label services, helping artists reach platforms like Spotify and Apple Music while keeping 100 percent ownership and royalty splits.
Explore how file sharing disrupted the music industry, ending physical album revenue and forcing reinvention of distribution. See how Napster sparked streaming and reshaped the landscape of digital distribution.
Examine the revenue picture in music distribution, focusing on digital downloads, physical sales, and streaming, and explain how distribution firms and label services respond to streaming's dominance.
Explore the hidden responsibilities of a physical distributor, from warehousing and climate-controlled storage to marketing to stores, shipping, returns, accounting, and managing bad debts.
Plan a four-month lead time with a clear release date and artwork to start marketing and hit the charts. Finalize the master and begin manufacturing two months out.
Distributors secure end-cap placements by negotiating deals with record labels, using incentives to boost shelf visibility and drive album sales.
Evaluate do-it-yourself vinyl distribution for albums and why many services vanish, urging artists to check with vinyl manufacturers for distribution options, then embrace easy digital distribution.
Explore how distribution and publishing merge to empower independent artists, with digital distributors like Cobalt offering a one stop path, often bypassing traditional label gatekeepers.
Understand gatekeepers in music distribution, from record labels to streaming platforms, and why independent artists still need a distributor to reach most services, with Spotify as a rare exception.
Evaluate digital distributors by three criteria: cost, keeping 100 percent of royalties, and the platforms they reach, such as Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and more.
Compare popular digital distributors, noting 100% of sales kept, access to 150 digital stores and streaming services in 100+ countries, and album pricing differences.
Log in to the Symphonic Distribution account to view aggregated analytics, spot top tracks, geographic hotspots, and the main streams from Spotify and Apple Music for your release strategy.
Start a digital album release by obtaining a UPC, entering album details, uploading tracks, and distributing to stores, with artwork, genre, pricing, and release timing.
Streaming services offer artist portals to claim and customize pages. Learn to claim Spotify for Artists and Apple Music pages, upload bio, banners, and playlists.
Learn how distributor royalties for streams and sales are paid, why payments come from the distributor, and how a payment gateway and a $50 threshold affect your earnings.
Discover hidden royalties from webcasting in non-interactive streaming and learn to claim them by creating a SoundExchange account.
Explore how musicians earn royalties from multiple sources—sales, streaming, sound exchange, and performing rights—plus licensing from Harry Fox Agency and direct sync rights.
Explore what's next after the musician guide series, including a potential taxes module for artists about paying and filing taxes. Check out the other musician guide classes for more learning.
Thank you for watching this online class on the musician's guide to distribution and digital distribution; I hope you had fun, and I’ll see you in the next class.
Welcome to the "Musician's Guide" Series!
This series is pulled directly from the courses I've created for my university position in Music Business. All of these courses are designed for the everyday musician - amateur or professional - who has little or no knowledge on the topic, but wants to master it.
This class is all about Distribution and Digital Distribution. In other words: How to get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon, and all the hundreds of other streaming services.
100% Answer Rate! Every single question posted to this class is answered within 24 hours by the instructor.
It is ideal for anyone who makes music. Especially:
Creators: If you are making music, you need to understand how to get your music to the streaming services, and how to get paid from them.
Musicians: If you are going to be recorded, you should understand how things will work when the recording is released, and what rights you have to your performance.
Producers: If you are releasing music, and you are not capturing "webcasting" royalties, you are missing out on money.
Curious Minds: Anyone interested in how distribution works, and where it might be going is invited to be a part of this class.
In this class, we start with the basics of distribution, and how it worked back in the days of physical products. I'll point you to some resources if you want to release physical products (like vinyl records), but then we will move on to the digital distribution platforms. I'll take you inside my accounts, look at my royalty statements, and walk you through the process of getting your music distributed.
But most importantly: There is a hidden royalty that most people don't know about. Once you are on streaming services, you can make even more money if you take just 5 minutes to set one thing up. If you don't, you are missing out on more royalties!
The goal of this class is for you to be making money from your music on streaming services in a few days.
Software:
This course is NOT specific to any DAW program.
Genre:
The course has no genre - so all are welcome here.
Topics Covered:
How the Major Distributors Work
Music Business essentials
Music publishing, and music industry trends
Make money online with your music.
Independent Label Distribution
Distribution Partnerships
Revenue
Roles of the Distributor
Digital Distributors
Kobalt
Apple Music
Spotify
Amazon Music
Tidal
Inside my Accounts!
TuneCore
Symphonic Distribution
Distrokid
CDBaby
Hidden Royalties!
Licensing and Performing Rights
And much, much more!
If you are ready to start making money from your music from streaming, this class will start you on that journey. Get started today.
Dr. Allen is a university music professor and is a top-rated Udemy instructor - with nearly 100 courses and over 200,000 students.
In 2017 Star Tribune Business featured him as a "Mover and a Shaker," and he is recognized by the Grammy Foundation for his music education classes.
** I guarantee that this course is the most thorough distribution course available ANYWHERE on the market - or your money back (30-day money-back guarantee) **
Closed captions have been added to all lessons in this course.
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Praise for Courses by Jason Allen:
⇢ "It seems like every little detail is being covered in an extremely simple fashion. The learning process becomes relaxed and allows complex concepts to get absorbed easily. My only regret is not taking this course earlier." - M. Shah
⇢ "Great for everyone without any knowledge so far. I bought all three parts... It's the best investment in leveling up my skills so far.." - Z. Palce
⇢ "Excellent explanations! No more or less than what is needed." - A. Tóth
⇢ "VERY COOL. I've waited for years to see a good video course, now I don't have to wait anymore. Thank You!" - Jeffrey Koury
⇢ "I am learning LOTS! And I really like having the worksheets!" - A. Deichsel
⇢ "The basics explained very clearly - loads of really useful tips!" - J. Pook
⇢ "Jason is really quick and great with questions, always a great resource for an online class!" M. Smith
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Students who register for this course will receive ongoing exclusive content and discounts for all future classes in the series.