Before your song hits Spotify or Apple Music, you need a reliable digital distributor. This post compares the top platforms—DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Amuse, and more—so you can find one that matches your goals and budget.
Topics We’ll Cover:
royalty splits, fees, speed of delivery, ease of use, additional features.
Key References:
• Ari’s Take: aristake.com
• CD Baby Blog: blog.cdbaby.com
From exporting your final WAV file to scheduling a release date, this guide walks through every step of releasing your first track like a pro—without getting overwhelmed.
Topics We’ll Cover:
audio format requirements, metadata, release scheduling, explicit content flags.
Key References:
• DistroKid Help: distrokid.zendesk.com
• TuneCore Blog: tunecore.com/blog
Don’t leave money on the table. This blog breaks down the types of royalties artists earn—and how to make sure you're collecting all of them.
Topics We’ll Cover:
mechanical royalties, performance royalties, PROs, sync licensing.
Key References:
• ASCAP: ascap.com/help
• Songtrust: blog.songtrust.com
What’s the difference between Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and TIDAL? Learn how your music reaches these platforms and what kind of exposure and payout each one offers.
Topics We’ll Cover:
streaming platform reach, audience types, royalties per stream, promotional tools.
Key References:
• Digital Music News: digitalmusicnews.com
• Spotify for Artists: artists.spotify.com
Verification adds credibility. Learn how to claim your artist profiles, customize your pages, and access valuable fan data.
Topics We’ll Cover:
Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, YouTube OAC, profile customization.
Key References:
• Spotify: artists.spotify.com
• Apple Music for Artists: artists.apple.com
A playlist placement can change your career overnight. This blog teaches you how to submit songs to Spotify editors and independent curators to increase your chances of landing big exposure.
Topics We’ll Cover:
Spotify pitching tools, indie curators, timing, press kits, follow-up etiquette.
Key References:
• Spotify Playlist Submission: artists.spotify.com/help
• Symphonic Blog: blog.symphonicdistribution.com
Hype your release the right way. From building a pre-save campaign to using countdowns and launch-day assets, this blog teaches you how to boost streams from day one.
Topics We’ll Cover:
smart links, email lists, teaser content, day-of posting schedule.
Key References:
• Hypeddit: hypeddit.com
• ToneDen: toneden.io
When you share your music, send fans somewhere that works. Learn how to build smart links and landing pages that connect to merch, videos, social media, and more.
Topics We’ll Cover:
link platforms, fan conversion, landing page design, analytics.
Key References:
• Koji: withkoji.com
• Linktree: linktr.ee
Streams are just numbers—until you understand them. This post shows how to read your analytics dashboards so you can make better release, ad, and tour decisions.
Topics We’ll Cover:
Spotify for Artists, Apple Music insights, audience geography, top tracks.
Key References:
• Spotify for Artists: artists.spotify.com
• Apple Music for Artists: artists.apple.com
Even good music can flop if it’s released the wrong way. This post outlines common mistakes—from metadata errors to release timing flubs—and how to avoid them.
Topics We’ll Cover:
misspelled artist names, late distribution, wrong artwork, improper ISRC codes.
Key References:
• LANDR Blog: blog.landr.com
• CD Baby: diymusician.cdbaby.com