Independent Music distribution?

LesStrat

LesStrat

Reining PunLowered
What are some sites for distributing independently produced recordings?

We’ve posted to SoundCloud for years. Recently, I looked into opening an artist account. The price was reasonable, and it seemed like a great deal. I started uploading an album and got to the final step only to discover that they ONLY use PayPal for payments.

I refuse to use PayPal since they decided that stealing from customers was a reasonable practice.

is there another compatible service that doesn’t require PP?
 
To clarify: we are not expecting this to make any significant amounts of money. However, they need a payment process in case sales occur. Otherwise, they won’t distribute the songs.
 
Hire an aggregator like TuneCore who places your content on all platforms and monetizes it -some even do physical distribution too.

Anything I do thats not on another label handling everything is through a mix of Tunecore for all streaming platforms and monetization with Bandcamp (so a can monetize s direct download for higher % for uber fans who download), and then I have a merch distro service for most Vinyl, CD, Tshirts stickers, picks etc and sometimes I do physical merch myself if a small run.
 
I either use Bandcamp or Distro Kid. They are different, in that Distro Kid gets your releases everywhere digital music is sold. Bandcamp is exclusive, but you get to keep more of your money, and they allow non-formulaic releases there (like a 14 hour ambient project I released).
 
Mincer said:
I either use Bandcamp or Distro Kid. They are different, in that Distro Kid gets your releases everywhere digital music is sold. Bandcamp is exclusive, but you get to keep more of your money, and they allow non-formulaic releases there (like a 14 hour ambient project I released).
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Bandcamp is essential in my mind regardless of the other methodologies you also use -it's where the music fanatics will pay for lossless and lossy downloads because they want to own the media. It's a godsend for a musician that these people still exist.. Then theres the Vinyl types... I could kiss them.
 
:thanks: guys. SoundCloud distributes to about 20 sites, but they ONLY use PayPal. I refuse to do business with PP.
 
Mincer said:
I either use Bandcamp or Distro Kid. They are different, in that Distro Kid gets your releases everywhere digital music is sold. Bandcamp is exclusive, but you get to keep more of your money, and they allow non-formulaic releases there (like a 14 hour ambient project I released).
Click to expand...

Which package do you use or recommend on Distro Kid? The packages seem to be based on the # of bands uploaded. :?:
 
I like CD Baby as an independent distributor. They have been around a while, have reasonable pricing which is a one time flat fee and have good support.

EDit: Unfortunately Bandcamp only sends payments to PayPal.
 
I was checking the status of DK’s distribution today. SoundCloud already distributed two albums, despite giving me a refund for my membership. :lmao:
 
NegativeEase said:
Bandcamp is essential in my mind regardless of the other methodologies you also use -it's where the music fanatics will pay for lossless and lossy downloads because they want to own the media. It's a godsend for a musician that these people still exist.. Then theres the Vinyl types... I could kiss them.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Even on a distro that handles all our digital releases so I don’t have to worry about it anymore, I still run a bandcamp for when we do a limited run of CDs for fans who like physical media.
 
PayPal released a new users agreement a couple of months ago that essentially gave them the right to steal $2500 from you if you said something they deemed unacceptable, through social media, etc.

They claimed it was a draft that wasn’t ready for release and withdrew it once it went viral. Many of us don’t buy their explanation. Even if it wasn’t supposed to be released yet or hadn’t been approved, it clearly had been discussed in the revision process.
 
Mincer said:
I either use Bandcamp or Distro Kid. They are different, in that Distro Kid gets your releases everywhere digital music is sold. Bandcamp is exclusive, but you get to keep more of your money, and they allow non-formulaic releases there (like a 14 hour ambient project I released).
Click to expand...

This is my official :thanks: for the recommendation. Distrokid was MUCH easier to set up, and it costs about 60% of the SoundCloud price. They offer multiple payment options.

plus I didn’t have to choose the payment option before uploading. I couldn’t complete the uploads on SoundCloud because I no longer have a PP account.

Interesting aside: SoundCloud gave a full refund. Yet when I checked a couple of the sites to see if DK had uploaded our albums, I also found the SC versions. :lmao:
 
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LesStrat said:
This is my official :thanks: for the recommendation. Disrepair was MUCH easier to set up, and it costs about 60% of the SoundCloud price. They offer multiple payment options.

plus I didn’t have to choose the payment option before uploading. I couldn’t complete the uploads on SoundCloud because I no longer have a PP account.

Interesting aside: SoundCloud gave a full refund. Yet when I checked a couple of the sites to see if DK had uploaded our albums, I also found the SC versions. :lmao:
Click to expand...

I am happy you have a solution. I don't know how relevant old timey record companies are anymore.
 
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