Thanks to online music distribution services like TuneCore, anyone can distribute their music on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, TikTok…But before you get started, here are 10 things you should know about digital distribution!1- Digital distributors are accessible to everyone!Gone are the days when you had to send a demo of your music to a record label and hope that one day, maybe, if the stars aligned, you would get a response. Since the rise of the internet and online music platforms, distributing your music has become more accessible! Today, thanks to online services like TuneCore, all you have to do is create an account, upload your music, and TuneCore will distribute it to the widest audience possible. There’s no selection process—anyone can be on Spotify, as long as it’s music!2- Digital distribution is affordableNow that you know being on streaming platforms isn't just for Ariana Grande and The Weeknd, you're probably wondering how much it costs. Once again, distribution services aim to be accessible to everyone! You can distribute your music with no limits starting at €22.99 per year on TuneCore. No need to break the bank, and the other good news is that you can even earn revenue from it!3- It’s the main source of income in the music industry, and you keep 100%!Every stream, download, or use of your music in a video generates money. After distributing your music, TuneCore collects the revenue, and makes it available in your account. There’s no commission on this money—you keep 100% of it, which you can reinvest in other parts of your project, like promotion, instruments, or even the tour bus of your dreams!Even though this seems logical, historically, artists in the music industry only received a small percentage of these royalties, with the majority going to record labels. This is a revolution that gives independent artists more power, but also more responsibility.4- Distributing your music is fast! But take your time.When your music is fresh out of the studio, you’re eager to share it with the world! Good news—it’s possible to distribute your music in just a few days, but we highly recommend planning 3 to 4 weeks between uploading your music and its release date.First, this will give you time to create a release strategy with some promotion. Second, it will allow music platform editors to listen to your track. Finally, it gives you room to make any necessary changes to your release information: credits, cover art, etc.5- You don’t need to be an expert to distribute your music on platformsMost independent artists are self-taught, learning by doing. The same goes for music distribution—it’s not rocket science, and anyone can do it. Digital distributors like TuneCore are designed to guide you step by step while providing all the resources you need to go further. You also have access to a support team based in France that can answer all your questions and specific requests!6- You can reach a global audienceThe advantage of digital distribution is that you don’t have to invest in production costs (CDs, vinyl) or logistics (transport, storage). TuneCore allows you to distribute your music worldwide at no additional cost, potentially generating more revenue and visibility.In France, we’re familiar with platforms like Deezer, Spotify, and Apple Music, but every country has its preferred music platforms (Gaana in India, Tencent in China, etc.). So the best strategy is to make your music available to as many people as possible, across the globe!7- You can put your music on social media (TikTok, Instagram, and more)Nowadays, the line between music streaming platforms and social networks is becoming increasingly blurred. That’s why it’s crucial to make your music available in the music libraries of Instagram and TikTok. This allows your fans to share your music with their community and even make it go viral.The good news? When your music is used on these platforms, you earn additional revenue on top of what you get from streaming platforms!8- Your cover art must not contain text.Aside from your album or single title and artist name, music platforms strictly prohibit any additional text on your cover art. This is important to keep in mind when briefing your graphic designer or creating your own artwork.9- Share your music with a multi-platform link.When you share your music, put yourself in the listener’s shoes. They might not use the same streaming platform as you. To maximize the chances of them listening to your music, make it accessible in just one click.To help with this, TuneCore offers an integrated tool called Linkshare, which allows you to create a multi-platform link that redirects the listener to your music on their preferred platform.10- Don’t stop at digital distribution!Once your music is available on streaming platforms, your work isn’t done! There are still other steps to keep your project alive.The first and most important? Promotion! Make sure your music reaches the right audience.I hope you now have a better understanding of online music distribution and, most importantly, that this has inspired you to take the plunge! We’re lucky to live in an era where making music is more accessible than ever—it’s up to you to seize the opportunity, learn, and have fun along the way!Distribute your music now and get 20% off all TuneCore subscriptions by clicking on this link and applying the code BASEFMTC20.