DistroKid Review - Is it worth it in 2023?
MUSIC DISTRIBUTION
DistroKid Review: An In-Depth Look at the Music Distribution Platform's Features, Pros and Cons
Are you a musician, producer, beatmaker or just someone looking for an easy and affordable way to distribute your music to major streaming platforms?
Looking for a way to monetize your songs and earn some well-deserved royalties from your art?
Let us introduce you to one of the most known distributors in the industry: DistroKid.
In this review, we'll take a closer look at DistroKid's features, pricing plans, and its overall performance to help you decide if it's the right fit for you. From its ability to upload unlimited songs and get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, and many more, to its user-friendly interface and streamlined process, DistroKid has a lot to offer independent artists. Keep reading to find out more about one of the most popular distribution services!"
Overview
DistroKid is one of the oldest and most reputable distribution services. There is a good chance that you landed on this page already knowing the name and looking for more information.
For the sake of simplicity, we'll keep this review short and straight to the point.
One of the most important aspects of any service lays on its reliability, and it is no different with music distribution. You can expect a fast release of your songs, taking as little as 3 days to have your music across all platforms.
You'll have the option to release a single song or an Album up to 35 songs at a time.You'll have to provide a reasonable amount of information about the songs, things like: The Genre, Label, Release date, Album Cover, etc. It is a really simple and straight-forward process, that should not take more than 5 to 10 minutes.
You can open the gallery bellow to have a sneak-peak at the whole interface of the uploading process, so you already are prepared in case you decide to go with DistroKid's Services.
You can also see how many platforms you have available for uploading (There are a lot, really!)
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, DistroKid offers a few different options to fit the needs of different types of musicians.
The first plan, called "Musician," is priced at $19.99 per year and allows for the upload of unlimited songs and lyrics, as well as the ability to collect earnings from royalty splits. Additionally, this plan includes a Spotify verified checkmark, which is a valuable asset for any new artist looking to increase their visibility on the platform.
The second option, called "Musician Plus," costs $35.99 per year and includes everything in the Musician plan, but with the added benefit of allowing for the creation of 2 artist accounts, and a 10% discount. It also includes synced lyrics in Instagram and daily streaming statistics. Additionally, this plan allows for customization of the label name, release date, pre-order date, iTunes pricing, and ISRC codes.
All in all, DistroKid offers a wide range of options to suit the needs of any musician, whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned pro, all with a very straight-forward and affordable price.
It's worth noting that these plans are subject to change and there could be certain restrictions based on availability and other factors)
So, it's always a good idea to verify the plans and pricing with DistroKid directly to see how much does it cost.)
For the sake of transparency, you should also know that there are a couple of "extra services" that DistroKid tries to sell when you are the end of the uploading process. Fortunately, none of them are neither mandatory or necessary, and most of them are more of "nice haves" than something you actually really need.
There is enough about Distrokid's Pricing plans and extras that warrants its own guide:
Also Read: "Distrokid Pricing Guide - Everything you need to know"
How To Get Paid
When it comes to getting paid for your music, DistroKid makes it easy and hassle-free.
Once your music is released and available on streaming services, you'll start earning reproduction royalties.
DistroKid offers several payment options, including PayPal, eChecks/direct deposit, wire transfers, and physical checks. You can also use DistroKid's payment processor, Tipalti.
You'll be able to withdraw after reaching the minimum threshold of 5$.
One of the best things about DistroKid is that it allows you to split the payout with collaborators. This can be done easily by setting percentage splits for each collaborator.
If your collaborator is not yet a DistroKid member, DistroKid will even offer a 50% membership discount.
This feature is especially helpful if you work with a music producer and want to share earnings on your collaborations.
Keep in mind that this feature only works with collaborators who are DistroKid members and even if they don't renew their membership, they will still receive payments as long as that release generates royalties.
As you can see, DistroKid offers a convenient and straightforward way to get paid for your music while keeping 100% of your earnings, with the added possibility to split the earnings with collaborators.
Is it worth it?
The answer is Yes!
Albeit being one of the "old-school" platfforms, it still is as relevant and worth it today, as it was before.
Overall, DistroKid is a great option for independent musicians looking for an hassle-free and affordable way to distribute their music to major streaming platforms.
With its ability to upload unlimited songs, collect royalties, and customize label names and release dates, as well as a plethora of extra features, DistroKid offers a lot of value for its price being one of the most affordable music distribution services in the market.
Additionally, its user-friendly interface and streamlined process make it accessible for musicians of all experience levels to spread their art and earn some royalties while they're at it!