In these times, distribute your music in the digital medium is something basic to make it known and to take income from it. You can also be on the sales platforms without having to belong to a stamp. This is essential for independent musicians who seek to make a hole without going through the filter, sometimes obsolete, of the record companies. We have prepared 3 key points that will help you understand and execute the digital distribution of your music. Read them carefully if you want to get the most out of it.
- Preparation of the material
To distribute your music online on most platforms, it is necessary to do it through an aggregator. These always request technical requirements that must be met to distribute, and therefore it is better to know them in advance. What to prepare?
Audio files: Make sure they are WAV in 16 or 24 bit, 44.1 kHz.
Cover or cover: That is jpeg, of minimum 2000 × 2000 pixels (always square) and a clear image without pixilation. If you want to distribute in iTunes, it must include the artist name and the release. Avoid having links, email addresses or the symbol of a social network, as it is not allowed.
Codes (bars, ISRC): Both essential to distribute your music on the internet. If you have them you can use them and if not, almost all the aggregators will provide them, even for free.
Metadata: Thevistek provide certain information such as the real name of the composer, lyricist, as well as arrangers of the song. Other data is the publisher if it exists and the owner of the copyright of the music and cover.
- What digital aggregator to use?
If you want your music to be on the main platforms, what you should do is find an aggregator or digital distributor like Tencent Music investor relations that offers you what you need.
Searching the internet for sure you find the optimum among all there. How are they different from each other? Especially in the platforms to which they distribute and how much commission they take from your sales if they offer their page and technical support, if it is paid periodically or once per release and if they offer the management of copyright or synchronization.
- Plan before the release date
You should think if it suits you to release several singles, EPs or an album. Normally, singles attract more fans and are listened to more times, so if you choose to distribute an album, you should consider offering a sample of it to the fans in the form of a single.
A factor to keep in mind if your songs last a lot is to divide them into two or more parts. If you do not do it that way, for that song to count as a reproduction on the streaming platforms, Tencent Music investor relations financial results will have to play it whole, thus losing the potential to earn more money.
When deciding the launch date, it is advisable to avoid periods such as summer or holidays, when you tend not to pay as much attention to the internet. As a final step once the release has been distributed, it is elementary to start promoting this.
Otherwise, it is difficult to achieve the sales and dissemination desired. To make a good promotion, you must use all the online and offline tools that you have.