Music Distribution

GET YOURSELF HEARD!

Writing and performing music is an incredible, unparalleled experience. You probably already know that since you're receiving this email, but do you know what it takes to get your music in front of your audience?

Setting up an official release with wide ranging distribution isn't an obvious process, but it can be surprisingly simple. Below I'll go through the three steps you need to take to register and upload a song to online streaming platforms and stores.

1. Join a Performing Rights Organization (PRO)

   1. A PRO is an agency that makes sure songwriters and publishers get the royalties that their music generates. They collect public performance royalties whenever a song is performed in public (this could be on the radio, in a venue, or on TV, for example), then pay them to the rights holders.

   2. There are many different PROs; the most prevalent in the United States are BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC. You only need to register with one of these as a songwriter or publisher.

   3. Each agency has their own process for registration and include fees for the affiliation. You can find more information on the following pages:

      1. BMI - https://www.bmi.com/join

      2. ASCAP - https://ome.ascap.com/

      3. SESAC - https://www.sesac.com/music-creators/songwriters

   4. The organization you choose will depend on your preferences and situations. Feel free to look into each one to find which works best for you.

1. Hire a publishing company or create an LLC

   1. A music publisher is typically responsible for promoting and monetizing a song. They help to ensure the composer or songwriter receives the money their work earns. They also collect publisher royalties, which are separate from songwriter royalties, and usually manage ownership of the copyrights involved.

   2. You can either hire a publisher, such as Forever Current, or create your own business entity to manage your own publishing. In most cases, this entity is a Single-Member Limited Liability Company (SMLLC). To establish an SMLLC, you'll need to research the application requirements for your state or local governance.

   3. You will need to have a publisher set up before registering a song with your PRO, but you can also allow the PRO to act as a publisher on your behalf.

1. Choose a music distributor

   1. These companies are designed to take your music and post it to a vast collection of online streaming services and stores. They then collect the money your music earns and forward it to you.

   2. Some examples are:

      1. Distrokid - https://distrokid.com/

      2. Songflowr - https://songflowr.com/

      3. Tunecore - https://www.tunecore.com/

      4. CDBaby - https://cdbaby.com/

   3. Each one has its own set of fees for uploads, so look into them to see which fits your budget best and which has the features your need.

If you're an independent artist looking to distribute an original song, you could get it out there forever for as little as $60. ASCAP has a one-time joining fee of $50 as a composer/songwriter and can act as your publisher, and Songflowr charges only $10 for a single to be distributed and posted for a lifetime.

It can be intimidating trying to reach out to your audience, but if you follow these three steps, you'll be pulling in money and streams in no time!

For tips like these and even more in-depth industry insights that will revolutionize your career, invest in Forever Current's Label Release Checklist workbook, which you can find here: https://www.labelreleasechecklist.com/label-release-bundle

Thank you and have a great weekend!