The Ultimate Music Distribution Guide For Independent Artists 🚀

Yurr! So you’ve got your track ready, the mix is clean, beat licensed, everything’s sounding tight — but now what?

It’s time to get that music out into the world. And that’s where music distribution comes in. If you’re an independent artist, this blog’s gonna give you the full rundown on how to drop your music on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube Music and more — without needing a label or manager.

Let’s run it.

🎯 What is Music Distribution?

Music distribution is how your song gets from your laptop to streaming platforms.

You upload your final track to a distribution platform (like DistroKid), and they handle the rest such as:

• Uploading it to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

• Making sure your artwork, metadata, and credits are correct

• Collecting your streams/revenue and paying you directly

🔑 Why I Use DistroKid

Real talk — I use DistroKid for my own releases and tracks I produce on. And here’s why:

• 💸 Cheap pricing — You pay one low yearly fee and can upload unlimited songs

• 🚀 Fast uploads — Most of my tracks go live on Spotify within 24–72 hours

• 💼 100% of your royalties — No splits unless you set them manually

• 🔗 Split payments built in — Super easy to pay collaborators or producers

• 📈 Instant Spotify for Artists access — Helps with pitching + stats

I’ve distributed my own tracks through DistroKid hit 300k + streams, and it’s been smooth every time. Royalties are paid 3 months from the date they are collected and their has never been an issue.

If you live outside the usa like myself you will need a tax number from your country in order to withdraw all your earnings, otherwise there is a US withholding tax.

🧠 What You Need Before Distributing

Before uploading, make sure you have:

• ✅ A mixed and mastered track

• ✅ Your beat license (if it’s leased or exclusive)

• ✅ Artwork (minimum 3000x3000px, no logos or blurry images)

• ✅ Song title, artist name, genre, and any features listed correctly

You’ll also choose a release date, so you can schedule promo ahead of time.

🛠 Pro Tips for First-Timers

• 📆 Schedule releases at least 2–3 weeks in advance
  So you have time to pitch to Spotify editorial playlists using Spotify for Artists. This also give you a good window to get the necessary promotion in.

• 🖼️ Double check your artwork and credits
  Typos or low-quality art can slow down your release.

• 🤝 Set splits for collaborators
  DistroKid makes this easy — you just add their email and percentage.

💼 Other Distribution Options

While I use DistroKid, there are other solid platforms too:

• UnitedMasters – Free option with splits but takes a cut

• TuneCore – Quality platform, but a bit pricier

• Ditto, Amuse, and AWAL – All decent depending on your needs

But if you’re just starting and want something simple, reliable, and cost-effective — DistroKid is undefeated in my opinion.

If you're releasing through a label then they will most likely sort out distribution for you, and you won't need to worry about any of this. Just make sure you have the right meta data.

Final Thoughts 🎵

As an independent artist, you’re in full control — and music distribution is where that really shows. You don’t need a label to go live on Spotify. You just need the right tools, the right mindset, and the right rollout.

If you’ve got a banger ready with one of my beats and need help with distribution, playlisting, or even artwork hit me up and i can give you tips. I’ve done it myself, I’m still doing it, and I want to see you win too.

Let’s run it up 📈