Music distribution is the music industry's way of making
recorded music available to consumers. It is a central aspect of their business
model and allows you to buy most music in stores or download or stream it
online.
The mechanics of music distribution have changed
dramatically since the advent of the Internet, with mixed results for artists.
Let's see how this field traditionally operated and how it continues to change
in the digital age.
What is music
distribution?
Aside from the musicians themselves, there are many actors
involved in taking music from its point of creation to where it can be heard.
Producers, engineers, record labels, promoters, agents, and publicists all play
a role. Distributors are also an important piece of this puzzle.
Music distribution makes recorded music available to the
public. Through a system of contracts and payments, distributors grant record
stores, online download platforms, and streaming services the rights to buy and
resell an artist's music.
How Music
Distribution Works
Traditionally, distribution companies sign deals with record
labels, which entitles them to sell the label's products. The dealer takes a
portion of the proceeds from each unit sold and then pays the tag the remaining
balance.
Most distributors expect record labels to provide them with
finished, ready-to-market products, but sometimes distributors offer
manufacturing and distribution (M&D) offerings for Indie artists. With this setup, the
distributor pays the costs of making an album up front and keeps all proceeds
from the album sales until the initial investment is paid off.
For much of the 20th century, music streaming companies were the
links between record labels and retail outlets, which included exclusive music
stores, large retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy, and bookstores.
Record labels signed (and still do) contracts with musical
artists. They oversaw the recording, marketing, and promotion of music.
Consumers bought their favorite music on vinyl records, cassettes and CDs. In
most cases, it was the record companies that paid to make these products. To
get copies of albums into the hands of fans, the record companies signed deals
with distribution companies who, in turn, signed deals with retail stores to
sell the albums.
Some distributors bought albums from record labels outright,
while others distributed albums on consignment. Retailers followed suit: some
bought albums outright and others agreed to put consignment products on their
shelves.
How music
distribution has changed
The download brought radical changes to the music industry
in the early 21st century. Before the crackdown, fans downloaded millions of
tracks from a wide range of artists free of charge through companies like
Napster.
Although consumers now pay to legally download music from
outlets like iTunes and Amazon, sales of CDs and cassette tapes have plummeted
and the music industry has lost billions of dollars. Since 2015, subscription
services like Pandora and Spotify have helped the industry rebound and begin
creating a new model for music industry distribution and revenue.
With hundreds of music
distribution companies closing down, only a few remain affiliated with the
biggest record labels. Although there are hundreds of independent record
labels, Sony, Universal Music Group, and Warner own the largest music aggregator companies. Whether you
buy music from a local record store, download it from Amazon, or stream it on
Spotify, one of these companies is likely responsible for making it possible.
DIY
distribution
There have always been musicians who prefer to work in the
industry and find their own ways to get their music out. As many artists have
protested the inequalities of the streaming model and its growing dominance,
many of them are bypassing labels and distributing their music themselves. Chance
the Rapper made history in 2017 when he became the first musician to win a
Grammy or Indie Record Label without
selling physical copies of his music. Even iTunes and Spotify offer artists a
way to distribute their music directly through their platforms.
The future
of music distribution
There is still a role for music distributor in the digital age,
even in the face of radical industry changes. After all, not all record labels
and musicians want to take on the task of distributing their own work. For this
reason, the remaining music distributors still work closely with record labels
to bring music to fans. Some retail stores continue to sell physical copies of
albums on vinyl, CD, or cassette. They also distribute music to digital
download media, although these companies also offer distribution agreements
directly to artists.
Digital music is going nowhere, and its reshaping of the
music industry will likely continue for years to come. As more artists find
ways to independently release their music, the place of distribution in the mix
is likely to continue to evolve as well.
About Us
DistroSongs aims to simplify the music distribution process
to help artists and labels focus on what they do best. Distrosongs is
constantly creating new features and distribution plans. When you create more
music, DistroSongs will find more simple opportunities.
Website - https://www.distrosongs.com/
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