If you’re a songwriter, musician or producer with a finished track in hand, you know the feeling: the excitement, the pride, and, not far behind, the big question…
“Now what?”
That question used to have a pretty straightforward answer: sign a record deal, press some vinyl or CDs, and hope for radio play. But we’re not living in that world anymore. These days, releasing music is less like a sprint to the gatekeepers and more like navigating a digital labyrinth where the rules keep changing and the map is drawn in real time.
That’s why I want to share with you a great article I came across from CD Baby’s DIY Musician blog: “Music Distribution: The Complete Guide for 2024”.
It’s a clear, comprehensive breakdown of how music distribution works right now and it’s well worth a read, whether you’re gearing up for your first release or your fiftieth.
What’s This Article Really About?
At its core, the article is a practical guide to getting your music into the places people actually listen… Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, YouTube Music, TikTok, and a long list of others. It demystifies what music distribution means today and how it works through digital aggregators like CD Baby, DistroKid, TuneCore, and others.
The piece walks through the basics:
- What a music distributor actually does (they’re your courier, delivering your tracks to the streaming platforms)
- How distributors get paid and what you need to know about royalties
- The difference between distribution and promotion
- Some helpful tips on choosing the right distribution partner for your goals
What I appreciated most is how it keeps a firm grip on reality. No hype, no empty promises, just solid, plain advice about what to expect and how to prepare. In an industry full of noise, that’s refreshing.
My Take: Distribution Is Just the Beginning
Reading this article reminded me of something I often tell other musicians: releasing music is like launching a paper boat into a big, unpredictable river. The boat might be beautiful, seaworthy even. But unless the current catches it, it may never reach anyone at all.
Music distribution is the moment you launch the boat. It’s essential, but it’s not the endgame. What you do after distribution matters just as much. Promotion, storytelling, audience building, connecting, it’s all part of the ecosystem.
That said, none of those things can happen until your music is actually available. And that’s where a good distribution setup comes into play.
One important point the article makes is that distribution is not a one-size-fits-all game.
Some platforms offer flat fees, others take a cut of royalties. Some let you keep everything, others bundle services like sync licensing or YouTube monetization. The “best” choice depends entirely on what stage you’re at in your music journey, how often you plan to release, and how involved you want to be in the admin side of things.
Personally, I lean toward the platforms that don’t nickel-and-dime you for every little service, but your mileage may vary. The point is: understand what you’re signing up for. The article does a great job helping you think through those decisions.
Want to Release Smarter?
If you’ve got music ready to go (or nearly there), I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read the full piece: Music Distribution: The Complete Guide for 2024
It might not answer every question, but it will help you ask better ones and that’s often where the smartest moves begin.
Let me know what you think. Are you using a distributor already? Thinking of switching? Still figuring it all out? I’d love to hear what your experience has been but in the meantime, keep writing those songs and sending them out into the world…
One boat at a time.
