DistroKid vs SoundCloud For Artists (My Experience)

SNAPDUST

9 Aug 202406:12

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the artist shares their experience transitioning music distribution from SoundCloud for Artists to DistroKid. They explain why they switched, citing DistroKid's full royalty retention as a key factor. The artist also compares the ease of use, pricing, and additional features of both platforms, and provides a guide for transferring music between distributors. They conclude by recommending DistroKid for its 100% royalty payout and additional benefits like promotional tools.

Takeaways

🎶 The speaker moved their music distribution from SoundCloud for Artists to DistroKid.
📅 They started releasing music in 2022 and initially used SoundCloud for Artists (formerly known as The Post Network).
💰 SoundCloud for Artists takes a 20% cut of royalties, which prompted the speaker to explore other platforms.
🎧 DistroKid allows artists to keep 100% of their royalties, making it a more attractive option.
⚡️ The speaker found DistroKid's upload process quick and straightforward, with fast delivery to streaming platforms.
🎛 DistroKid offers Beatport distribution for electronic music for an extra fee, a feature the speaker uses.
🔄 Transferring music from SoundCloud for Artists to DistroKid was simple, but some Spotify data like playlist ads and saves were lost.
💡 A potential workaround is to leave old music on the previous distributor and release new music on DistroKid, though it requires paying for both services.
🚀 DistroKid offers additional promotional tools and customization features like multiple artist names with the Musician Plus plan.
📹 SoundCloud for Artists provides useful features like YouTube Content ID and custom label names without extra fees, which may appeal to some artists.

Q & A

Why did the speaker initially choose SoundCloud for Artists as their music distributor?
-The speaker initially chose SoundCloud for Artists (formerly known as The Post Network) because they already had a SoundCloud account and it integrated well with streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. It was a convenient option with a flat yearly fee.
What prompted the speaker to switch from SoundCloud for Artists to DistroKid?
-The speaker decided to switch after discovering that SoundCloud for Artists takes a 20% cut of the royalties, while DistroKid allows artists to keep 100% of their royalties.
How did the speaker transfer their music from SoundCloud for Artists to DistroKid?
-The speaker followed a guide provided by DistroKid on transferring music from another distributor. The process took about a week, and they were able to retain the play counts on Spotify, although some tracking data like playlist adds and saves were lost.
What is one advantage of using DistroKid for electronic music producers?
-One advantage is that DistroKid offers the option to distribute music to Beatport, which is particularly useful for electronic music producers. However, this service comes with an extra monthly fee.
What are the speaker's thoughts on the upload process of both SoundCloud for Artists and DistroKid?
-The speaker found the upload processes for both distributors to be straightforward and simple. DistroKid's process was particularly fast, with music being delivered to stores quickly.
What are some of the key differences between SoundCloud for Artists and DistroKid mentioned by the speaker?
-The main difference is the royalty split: SoundCloud for Artists takes 20%, while DistroKid allows artists to keep 100%. Additionally, SoundCloud for Artists includes YouTube Content ID distribution for free, whereas DistroKid charges extra for it.
What are some of the additional features offered by DistroKid that the speaker mentions?
-DistroKid offers features like the ability to upload under multiple artist names and promotional tools to help artists promote their music. The speaker also mentions subscribing to the Musician Plus plan, which allows for unlimited uploads.
What does the speaker suggest for artists who don’t want to go through the process of switching distributors?
-The speaker suggests that artists could leave their old music on their current distributor and only release new music on the new distributor. However, this would result in paying membership fees for both services.
What data did the speaker lose during the transfer of music from SoundCloud for Artists to DistroKid?
-The speaker lost some tracking data during the transfer, such as playlist adds and saves on Spotify, although the overall play count remained intact.
What is the speaker’s final opinion on both SoundCloud for Artists and DistroKid?
-The speaker is a fan of both distributors but prefers DistroKid moving forward because of the 100% royalty retention. They recommend doing personal research to determine which distributor is best for individual needs.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Switching from SoundCloud for Artists to DistroKid

In this section, the speaker introduces the topic of the video, which is their experience of moving music distribution from SoundCloud for Artists (previously called 'Repost Network') to DistroKid. They began releasing music in 2022 and initially chose SoundCloud for its convenience in integrating with their existing account. It allowed easy distribution to platforms like Spotify and Apple Music for a flat yearly fee. The speaker acknowledges that their experience with SoundCloud for Artists was positive, with a simple upload process, especially for those already using SoundCloud.

05:02

💸 Reason for Switching: SoundCloud’s Royalty Fee

Here, the speaker explains the main reason for considering a switch from SoundCloud for Artists. SoundCloud takes a 20% cut of the artist’s royalties, meaning an 80/20 split between the artist and platform. While the speaker was aware of this when signing up, they later realized that other platforms, like DistroKid, allow artists to keep 100% of their royalties. This prompted them to explore alternatives, comparing pricing and value before deciding to switch to DistroKid.

🚀 Transition to DistroKid and Upload Process

In this part, the speaker shares their experience after switching to DistroKid. They found the upload process fast and easy, with music being delivered to stores quickly. DistroKid offers additional features, such as distribution to Beatport for electronic music (with an extra fee). The speaker briefly describes how they transferred music from SoundCloud to DistroKid, using DistroKid’s guides, and emphasizes that it took about a week while keeping Spotify play counts intact, though some tracking data like playlist ads were lost.

🔄 Options for Artists Transitioning Between Distributors

The speaker offers advice for artists considering moving from one distributor to another. One option is transferring all music from the previous platform to the new one, which can involve some risks, like losing data. Alternatively, artists can leave older music on their current distributor and upload new releases to the new one. However, this approach involves paying membership fees to both platforms. The speaker chose DistroKid's 'Musician Plus' plan, which offers unlimited uploads and customization features, as well as Beatport distribution.

👍 Positive Experience with DistroKid

The speaker reflects positively on their overall experience with DistroKid so far, noting that the platform offers useful promotional tools to help artists gain visibility. They also mention some of the advantages of SoundCloud for Artists, such as YouTube Content ID distribution, which is included without additional fees. SoundCloud also allows custom label names by default. The speaker emphasizes that both platforms have their pros and cons, urging viewers to research distributors based on their individual needs.

🤔 Final Thoughts and Recommendation

The speaker concludes by summarizing their preference for DistroKid moving forward, primarily due to the benefit of keeping 100% of royalties. They acknowledge that SoundCloud for Artists is still a solid option, especially for features like YouTube Content ID. The video ends with a call to action, offering viewers a discount link to join DistroKid, which also supports the speaker's channel. The speaker invites viewers to leave comments with any further questions.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡SoundCloud for Artists

SoundCloud for Artists is a distribution platform that allows musicians to upload their music and distribute it to various streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. In the video, the artist initially chose this platform because of its integration with their existing SoundCloud account, making the distribution process seamless. The platform charges a 20% fee for distribution, which means artists keep 80% of their royalties.

💡DistroKid

DistroKid is another music distribution service that the artist switched to from SoundCloud for Artists. It is highlighted in the video for its feature of allowing artists to keep 100% of their streaming royalties, which was a significant factor in the artist's decision to switch. DistroKid also offers a straightforward upload process and additional services like distribution to Beatport for electronic music.

💡Royalties

Royalties in the context of the video refer to the payments made to artists based on the usage of their music on streaming platforms. The artist discusses the difference in royalty splits between SoundCloud for Artists (80% for the artist) and DistroKid (100% for the artist), which was a key consideration in their decision to change distributors.

💡Distribution

Distribution, as used in the video, refers to the process of making music available on various music streaming platforms. The artist discusses their experiences with the distribution process on both SoundCloud for Artists and DistroKid, emphasizing the ease of use and the benefits of each platform.

💡Upload Process

The upload process is the method by which artists add their music to a distribution platform. The video describes the upload processes of both SoundCloud for Artists and DistroKid, with the artist noting the simplicity and efficiency of both, although with DistroKid, there's an emphasis on speed and the ability to retain play counts when transferring from another distributor.

💡Pricing

Pricing in this context refers to the costs associated with using a music distribution service. The artist mentions comparing the pricing of SoundCloud for Artists and DistroKid, considering the value for money each offers. DistroKid's appeal is its service that allows artists to keep all their royalties, which can be more cost-effective in the long run.

💡Beatport

Beatport is a digital music store specializing in electronic music. The video mentions that DistroKid offers an additional fee-based service to distribute music to Beatport, which is beneficial for electronic music artists looking to get their tracks on this platform.

💡Transfer

Transfer in the video refers to the process of moving music from one distribution platform to another. The artist details how they transferred their music from SoundCloud for Artists to DistroKid while retaining play counts on Spotify, which was a positive aspect of the switch.

💡Play Counts

Play counts are the number of times a track has been played on a streaming platform. The video discusses the importance of retaining play counts during the transfer process from one distributor to another, as they represent the track's popularity and listener engagement.

💡YouTube Content ID

YouTube Content ID is a system used to identify and manage copyrighted material on YouTube. The video points out that SoundCloud for Artists includes YouTube Content ID distribution as part of its plan, which is an additional feature that some artists might find valuable and that DistroKid charges extra for.

💡Custom Label Names

Custom label names allow artists to specify the label associated with their music during the upload process. The video mentions that SoundCloud for Artists allows the use of custom label names as standard, which can be important for branding and professional presentation.

Highlights

The artist began using SoundCloud for Artists (formerly known as Post Network) in 2022 due to its integration with their existing SoundCloud account.

SoundCloud for Artists allowed easy distribution to streaming platforms with a flat yearly fee.

The upload process with SoundCloud for Artists was simple, especially for those already using SoundCloud.

The artist did not encounter any significant issues with SoundCloud for Artists.

SoundCloud for Artists charges a 20% distribution fee, keeping 20% of royalties.

The artist discovered other distributors allow artists to keep 100% of their royalties.

DistroKid was chosen for its feature of allowing artists to retain 100% of streaming royalties.

The artist found the upload process on DistroKid to be straightforward and fast.

DistroKid offers the option to distribute to Beatport for an additional monthly fee, beneficial for electronic music artists.

The artist was able to transfer music from SoundCloud to DistroKid while retaining play counts on Spotify.

There was a loss of tracking data such as playlist adds and saves when moving to a new distributor.

The artist chose DistroKid's Musician Plus plan for unlimited uploads and additional customization features.

DistroKid offers promotional tools and other add-ons to help artists promote their music.

SoundCloud for Artists includes YouTube Content ID distribution in its plan.

SoundCloud for Artists allows the use of custom label names during music upload.

The artist recommends researching and weighing the pros and cons of different distributors.

The artist decided to release music on DistroKid moving forward due to the full royalty retention.

A referral link for DistroKid is provided, offering a 7% discount for the first year and supporting the artist's channel.