While both services are reliable and facilitative, the differences in terms of services, cost and user experience can help determine which might be better for an individual artist or label.
UnitedMasters is generally less expensive than Distrokid, but the range of services available is more limited. With UnitedMasters, users are able to upload their music directly to all major streaming services, but there are fewer opportunities for marketing and promotion options.
Distrokid, on the other hand, offers a wider range of services such as artist pages, hyper-follows, metadata editing, and discount codes, that allow customers to create enhanced release campaigns and reach larger audiences.
Additionally, Distrokid has more customization options and functionality; however, it can be considerably more expensive since pricing is based on the number of tracks released.
When deciding which music distribution platform to use, it is important to consider the artist’s goals and budget. Taking into account the features, affordability, and quality of service, it is ultimately up to the individual to decide which option is better for them.
Table of Contents
Is DistroKid and UnitedMasters the same?
No, DistroKid and UnitedMasters are not the same. DistroKid is an online digital music distribution and publishing platform that provides digital music delivery services to independent artists. UnitedMasters is a record label, artist services company, and technology platform founded by Steve Stoute.
It provides artists with comprehensive guidance, including financial backing, marketing and promotional services, assistance in developing strategies for dealing with industry players, and technical support.
While both services have been designed to help independent artists make their music available to the world and maximize their profits, the two platforms have different features and offer different services.
DistroKid focuses on digital music distribution, while UnitedMasters enables artists to further distribute their music, collaborate with other artists, and handle their own record label.
Does UnitedMasters promote your music?
Yes, UnitedMasters does promote your music. Their platform offers creative tools, market insights, and distribution services to independent artists, so your music can be heard and discovered by more people.
UnitedMasters provides comprehensive data and analytics that allow you to gain more insight into the performance of your music, as well as marketing tools to help you reach your audience. They also offer a range of music promotion services, from playlist pitching to artist page optimization to influencer relations.
So you can easily get your music in front of the right ears.
Does DistroKid own your masters?
No, DistroKid does not own your masters. As a music distributor, DistroKid simply provides services allowing you to submit and distribute your recordings to stores and streaming services like iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, etc.
When you submit recordings to stores and streaming services through DistroKid, you retain all ownership and control of your masters and the royalties associated with your recordings. You are then able to set up and manage your accounts with stores and streaming services to collect and distribute your royalties as you wish.
What is the downside to DistroKid?
One of the downsides to DistroKid is that it is not free. The premium subscription is currently $19. 99 per year, which is fairly inexpensive when compared to other digital distributors, but still may be too costly for some artists who are starting out.
Additionally, DistroKid is not an artist-forward platform, which means that it doesn’t do much to help promote the artists whose music it distributes. It will help in the distribution process, but the artist will be expected to do their own marketing and promotion.
Furthermore, DistroKid does not provide any data analytics or fan insights which could be useful to an artist in understanding their audience. Lastly, DistroKid does not currently offer a variety of international partners, so it may not be the best choice for independent artists who want to distribute their music to multiple countries around the world.
Which famous artists use DistroKid?
DistroKid is a digital distribution company that helps musicians and independent labels get their music into stores like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. Many of today’s biggest and most well-known artists use DistroKid to get their music into the hands of fans and on major streaming services.
Some of the most famous artists include Post Malone, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Travis Scott, and Drake. Other notable acts like The Weeknd, Migos, and Run The Jewels also upload their latest releases to DistroKid.
Apart from well-known artists, DistroKid is also used by countless independent and underground acts who see the platform as an accessible way to get their music out to the world.
Who owns the masters of a recording?
The ownership of a recording’s masters typically falls to the person or persons who created the recording. Depending on the exact context, this may mean the owner of the composition (the songwriter) as well as performers who contributed to the recording.
Generally speaking, when a music artist makes a recording, they enter into an agreement with a record label who obtains the rights to the studio recording masters in exchange for a financial stake in the profits of the recording.
This grants the label the right to distribute the recording under its own terms, while the artist holds the copyright to the underlying composition. In some cases, labels may also acquire a share of publishing rights in exchange for their investment.
In recent years, an increasing number of artists have taken the initiative to independently retain direct control of their masters and recordings, often cutting out labels entirely or entering into partnerships with independent labels that are more favorable to the artist’s interests.
In either case, the artist remains the owner of the recordings, although ownership may be broken up among various parties depending on the agreement surrounding the work.
Do music artists own their masters?
In most cases, music artists do not own their masters. When an artist records a song, they typically sign a contract in which the rights to their original master recording are sold to a record label.
This means that the record label owns the original recording, and the artist does not. However, it is becoming increasingly common for artists to claim ownership of their masters by negotiating terms with their record label in order to keep control of their intellectual property.
This is often done in tandem with an artist releasing their music independently, or releasing it through a hybrid label. In some cases, the artist will even finance their own recording session, which gives them complete ownership of their masters without entering into a deal with a record label.
Ultimately, while it is not the norm, it is possible for an artist to own their masters if they take the right measures.
Does DistroKid take rights to your music?
No, DistroKid does not take any rights to your music. DistroKid is an aggregator – which means that the company is solely the messenger between the artist and the online music service. The artist provides the music to the service and retains all their rights and royalties associated with their music.
DistroKid does not earn any royalties from the sale of the artist’s music or merchandise. They simply assist the artist with distribution and promotion of their music by providing services such as technical support, promotion through social media, and other marketing services.
The fees they charge are solely related to providing these services.
How much is UnitedMasters monthly?
UnitedMasters monthly is priced at $15/month with a no long-term commitment. The monthly fee gets you complete access to their services, including unlimited uploads to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and more, access to their artist analytics dashboard, and invites to exclusive events.
Furthermore, you also get unlimited UnitedMasters royalties which pays you up to 85% of streaming royalties. Additionally, you might benefit from their Artist Accelerator Program which costs an additional $15/month and includes services like promotional deals and featured placement opportunities.
Where does UnitedMasters distribute for free?
UnitedMasters distributes music to a large number of music streaming platforms for free including: Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Pandora, iHeartRadio and Deezer. They also offer distribution to over 150+ other stores and services, such as Napster, TikTok, SoundCloud, Spotify, and youTube Music.
In addition, UnitedMasters’ free distribution option lets independent artists share their music on 25+ social media platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp. This was created to help independent artists maximize their reach and get their music out to the world.
How can I distribute my music for free?
One of the best ways to distribute your music for free is to create an online presence where you can post your music and make it available to download or stream. You can start by setting up a website to share your music freely, as well as posting it to online streaming platforms such as SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and YouTube.
These platforms allow you to upload and share music with fans and followers. You can also use social media sites to promote your music, create contests, and spread the word about your work. Additionally, you can make the music available through torrenting services such as Pirate Bay, giving users the ability to freely download and share your music.
Finally, you can contact blogs or websites to have your music featured for free. By leveraging the power of the internet, you can reach audiences all around the world without spending money on marketing or distribution services.
How much does it cost to join UnitedMasters?
Joining UnitedMasters is free! There are no membership fees or sign-up costs. After signing up, artists may pay a one-time $10 fee to have their music digitally distributed across major streaming services.
Additionally, UnitedMasters partners with select record stores in order to provide vinyl distribution services starting at $198 per project. For those looking to stand out or reach more listeners, UnitedMasters also offers promotional services, such as playlist placements, streaming campaigns, and advertising opportunities.
Prices will vary depending on the package and services, but UnitedMasters will never charge artists a commission or take ownership of their music.
Does UnitedMasters actually work?
Yes, UnitedMasters does work. UnitedMasters is an online music distribution platform that was founded in 2015 by Steve Stoute, former Def Jam president, and has since become a leading distributor for independent music creators.
The platform allows artists to upload their music, and quickly and easily get it into the hands of fans and industry tastemakers. With UnitedMasters artists can access their streaming, radio and sales data in real-time, send their music to DSPs such as Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube and customize their own pre-save campaigns.
The platform also provides artists with automated Music Business insights, such as financial tracking and analysis, fan analytics and marketing insights. The platform has earned the trust of a wide array of industry experts, from record labels and managers to major brands.
It was also a finalist for the 2020 Billboard/French Tech Music Prize. All this to say, UnitedMasters does indeed work.
How long does it take UnitedMasters to approve a song?
It typically takes UnitedMasters 2-3 days to approve a song. However, due to the large demand for their services, this can sometimes take longer depending on the size of the request queue. In the event of delays, the UnitedMasters team will reach out to the artist to provide information on the status of their submission.
Once a song is approved, it will be available to UnitedMasters’ customers within 24 hours.
