Yes, you can use multiple music distributors to distribute your music. However, there are a few important considerations:
- Exclusivity: Some distributors require exclusivity, meaning you can only distribute a particular track or album through their service. Make sure to read the terms and conditions of each distributor carefully.
- Territorial restrictions: Distributors may have different territorial reach. Using multiple distributors can help you access a wider range of markets and platforms.
- Royalty rates and fees: Different distributors offer varying royalty rates and may charge different fees for their services. Compare the costs and benefits of each distributor to make an informed decision.
- Track and album management: Using multiple distributors can make it more challenging to manage your releases, track sales, and monitor royalties. Ensure you have a system in place to keep track of your music across different platforms.
- Aggregators: Some distributors, known as aggregators, can distribute your music to multiple platforms and stores, simplifying the process and reducing the need for multiple distributors.
Important Caveat: You cannot distribute the SAME track or album through multiple distributors simultaneously.
This would cause:
- Duplicates: Streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) would end up with multiple listings of the same track, confusing listeners and potentially causing licensing issues.
- Split Royalties: You wouldn’t get paid fully, as your royalties would be split among different distributors for the same track.
- Potential takedowns: In an effort to combat piracy, platforms might take down duplicate content, hurting your visibility.
How to Use Multiple Distributors Effectively:
- Separate Releases: Use each distributor for different tracks or albums. This is the simplest way to make sure there’s no conflict.
- Territory Splits: Some distributors may offer granular control, letting you send beats to specific territories through different distributors. This is more advanced.
- Migrate Existing Releases: If you want to switch distributors, you’ll need to go through the process of taking down your release from the old distributor and then re-uploading through the new one. Contact your original distributor for their specific takedown procedures.
Popular music distributors for independent artists include DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore, Ditto Music, and Amuse, among others. Research each distributor thoroughly to determine which combination best suits your needs as a beatmaker.