DistroKid vs SpaceMedia - Will DistroKid Delete My Music? Yes, we don’t!
- 02 Jan 2024
- 8639 Views
Introduction:
As an artist, the distribution of your music is a critical step in your journey. Platforms like DistroKid have become popular choices for many, but there are concerns and questions artists often have, like "Will DistroKid delete my music if my subscription expires?" Understanding the policies of your distribution platform is crucial. In this article, we’ll compare DistroKid's approach to music distribution with that of SpaceMedia, focusing on what happens to your music over time.
DistroKid’s Approach to Music Distribution:
DistroKid, a well-known player in the music distribution market, offers artists the ability to upload their music to various streaming services and stores for an annual fee. A question that often arises is what happens to the music if the subscription isn't renewed. In most cases, if an artist decides not to renew their subscription with DistroKid, their music will be removed from the platforms where it was distributed. This policy can cause concern for artists who want their music to remain available indefinitely, regardless of their subscription status.
SpaceMedia’s Artist-Friendly Policy:
SpaceMedia operates with a different philosophy. We believe that your music is your legacy, and it should remain accessible to your audience regardless of your subscription status. Therefore, unlike DistroKid, SpaceMedia only deletes music under specific circumstances, such as copyright infringement or evidence of artificial streaming activity. Our approach ensures that your music stays online even if your subscription expires, providing a sense of security and permanence for your artistic output.
Longevity and Access with SpaceMedia:
At SpaceMedia, we understand that an artist's work is not just a product, but a part of their identity and legacy. Our assurance that your music will remain online indefinitely offers several key advantages. Firstly, it ensures that your creations are perpetually accessible to both existing fans and new audiences worldwide. This continuous availability means your music can keep garnering attention and appreciation, regardless of when it was released.
Moreover, this policy allows for the organic growth of your audience over time. Music often finds its audience in waves, sometimes long after its initial release. By ensuring your music is always available, we provide the foundation for these natural discovery processes. Additionally, this approach can be particularly beneficial for long-term royalty accumulation, as your work continues to be a potential source of income, irrespective of its age.
Lastly, the permanence of your music on our platform means that your artistic journey is preserved. New fans can explore your older works, providing them with a comprehensive view of your evolution as an artist. This aspect of continuity not only enriches the listener's experience but also deepens the connection between the artist and the audience.
Comparison in Terms of Copyright:
Both DistroKid and SpaceMedia recognize the importance of respecting and upholding copyright laws. Copyright infringement is a serious matter, and both platforms take necessary actions, which may include the removal of music from distribution channels, to ensure compliance with legal standards. This commitment to copyright law is fundamental in protecting the rights of creators and maintaining the integrity of the music industry.
SpaceMedia, in its dedication to fair play and transparency, focuses on ensuring that the artists' work is presented and consumed in a manner that respects their rights and the rights of others in the industry. This approach underscores our commitment to providing a platform that not only supports artists in their creative endeavors but also in the protection and proper management of their intellectual property.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right distribution platform for your music is a crucial decision. While DistroKid offers a convenient service, its policy of removing music if a subscription lapses can be a significant drawback for artists seeking long-term availability of their work. SpaceMedia, on the other hand, guarantees that your music remains online, honoring your art and its accessibility to fans, irrespective of subscription status. This artist-friendly approach underlines SpaceMedia’s commitment to supporting artists not just in the present, but in preserving their legacy for the future.
SpaceMedia delivers music to a broad and changing network of streaming, download, social, and music-identification platforms. This can include major services such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, SoundCloud, Tidal, Pandora, Boomplay, Anghami, iHeart, JioSaavn, KKBOX, NetEase Cloud Music, Tencent, Qobuz, and other supported partners.
The exact network can change as platforms update territories, rules, and delivery requirements. SpaceMedia gives you access to supported distribution channels, but no distributor can guarantee that every platform will accept every release in every country.
Most major streaming services do not let every artist upload music directly. A distributor like SpaceMedia delivers your audio, artwork, metadata, and rights information to supported platforms so your release can appear on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, and others.
Create an account, choose the plan that fits your needs, upload the final release files, review the details, and submit. The Free plan currently distributes within 5 days, while Premium and Unlimited currently distribute within 2 days, before each platform completes its own processing.
You can monetize eligible music on supported video platforms through Content ID when your plan includes it. Content ID is currently included with Premium and Unlimited, and it is not included with the Free plan.
Only submit music you fully control for Content ID. Tracks with uncleared samples, non-exclusive beats, royalty-free loops used by many creators, public-domain recordings, or disputed rights may be rejected or may cause claims that need to be resolved.
Submit your release through SpaceMedia and choose distribution to social music platforms where available. Eligible releases can be delivered to platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and other supported social or short-form music services.
Once delivered, each platform decides how the music appears, how long processing takes, and which features are available in each territory. Use accurate metadata and clean audio to reduce avoidable delivery issues.
Independent music distribution lets artists release music to streaming, download, and social platforms without signing to a traditional record label. You stay in control of your music while using a distributor to deliver it to supported services.
With SpaceMedia, you can manage releases, artist details, earnings, and payout information from your account. Free users currently keep 90% of reported earnings, while Premium and Unlimited users currently keep 100%.
The Free plan lets artists release music without an upfront distribution fee. Free users currently keep 90% of reported earnings, and SpaceMedia keeps 10% from reported earnings.
This gives new artists a way to start releasing music before paying for a yearly plan. If you later want 100% royalty share, faster distribution, Content ID, or live support, you can compare paid plans on the pricing page.
Yes. In many cases you can transfer existing releases to SpaceMedia while keeping them live, as long as you submit the same metadata, audio, artwork, UPC, and ISRCs where available.
Keep the old release live until the SpaceMedia delivery is live and matched correctly. Removing the old version too early can interrupt availability or make stores treat the transfer as a new release instead of matching it to the existing one.
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