How To Release Your Music - A Beginner's Guide

A common question for anyone starting out on their music journey is:

"How do I release my music? With all the different streaming platforms and services, how do I get my music out there for the world to hear?"

Sometimes, it feels like technology only makes things more complicated, but thankfully, this is one area where it actually makes life a whole lot easier.

Enter: The Aggregator

A music aggregator is a service that takes your music and distributes it to the streaming platforms of your choice: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, etc. - and then collects your royalties and pays them to you. This is a simplified explanation, of course. There are other methods of royalty collection depending on where and how your music is played, but for most independent artists, an aggregator is the best place to start, and often, it's all you’ll need.

Here is some basic information on the four most well known aggregators.

DistroKid

• Pricing: $24.99/year (subscription model)

• Highlights: Unlimited releases with a flat annual fee

• My Pick: This is the one I personally use most often.

Get 7% off Distrokid when you sign up with this link

TuneCore

• Pricing:

  • Subscription model starting at $22.99/year (unlimited releases)

  • OR pay-per-release model with an annual fee per release

• Highlights: Flexibility for different artist needs

CD Baby

• Pricing: Starts at $9.99 per release

• Royalty Share: They take 9% of your royalties

• Highlights: One-time fee per release, no annual charges - great if you’re not planning to release frequently

LANDR

• Pricing: Starts at $23.99/year (subscription model)

• Highlights: Includes access to other services like mastering and collaboration tools

  
  

Note: All of these platforms offer "extras", such as YouTube Content ID, Shazam/Siri registration, and more - which can add to your total cost. The prices listed above are for their most basic distribution options.

Take Time to Compare - Music Release Guide:

While these quick summaries are a good starting point, the real differences often lie in the details - things like customer support, user interface, additional services, and access to industry opportunities. If any or all of those factors matter to you, it’s worth taking the time to dig a little deeper to ensure your music releases get the maximum benefit from your choice of aggregator. You can refer to the music release aggregator guide below for a more detailed breakdown of the differences between the platforms mentioned above:

Getting Heard Is the Real Challenge

Getting your music onto streaming platforms has never been easier, but getting people to listen is a whole different game. Maximize your music release by picking the right aggregator for you.

If you’re creating music simply for the joy of it, any of the above services will serve you well. But if you're aiming to build a fanbase or generate income, then distribution is just the first step. The real work is in promoting yourself and building momentum around your music.