How does digital music distribution work?
Short answer: Digital music distribution is the process by which your recorded music is delivered to online platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and others through intermediaries called distributors. These distributors make sure your songs are available for streaming, digital purchase, and royalty collection.
This topic connects with my guide on how Nigerian artists make money from streaming and distribution here:
How Musicians Make Money in Nigeria.
Why you cannot upload directly to streaming platforms
Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music do not accept direct uploads from individual artists. They only work with approved music distributors. Distributors act as the bridge between your music and the big streaming or download platforms.
This means that as a Nigerian artist:
- You need a distributor to get on streaming platforms
- You need your music metadata and files set up correctly
- You need a payment method to receive royalties
If any of these are missing, your music won’t go live properly.
Who are music distributors?
Music distributors are companies that submit your music to streaming platforms on your behalf. They also collect royalties and send them to you after taking their fee or share.
Some of the most reliable distributors for Nigerian artists include:
- TuneCore — solid for consistent releases and full royalty control
- CD Baby — good for one-time cost uploads
- RouteNote — flexible free and paid plans
Each distributor works a little differently, but they all serve the same purpose: get your music on platforms and help you earn from it.
If you’re unsure which one fits you, check this article:
Best music distribution platforms for Nigerian artists.
The step-by-step of how distribution works
1. Prepare your music
Before anything else, your music needs to be production-ready:
- High-quality audio files (WAV is preferred)
- Clean track titles
- Proper artist credits
- Artwork meeting platform requirements
Poor preparation leads to rejection or delayed release.
2. Choose your distributor
Once your music is ready, you pick a distributor. Each distributor will ask for your:
- Audio file
- Artwork
- Release date
- Track metadata
After that, they handle sending the music to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
3. Submit and wait for approval
After submission, the distributor checks everything before sending it to the platforms. Once sent, platforms review and make your music live — usually within 7–14 days.
This time gives you a chance to set up pre-saves, marketing, and promotion.
4. Music goes live and starts earning
Once live, listeners can stream, download (if enabled), and add your songs to playlists.
Every time your music is played, the platform tracks it and calculates royalties based on:
- Number of streams
- Listener location
- Subscription type (free/ad vs. premium)
These royalties then flow back to your distributor and eventually to your account.
If you want a clear view of how streaming royalties actually work, see:
Music streaming royalties explained for Nigerian artists.
Publishing vs distribution
Distribution gets your music on platforms. Publishing ensures you collect songwriting and composition royalties. These are separate revenue streams.
Some distributors, like TuneCore, offer publishing administration — meaning they help collect royalties that other distributors might miss.
This is an important step if you write your own music and want to maximize income.
How Nigerian artists get paid
After your music is streamed or downloaded, platforms send royalties to your distributor, which then pays you. Depending on the distributor, you may receive payments via:
- Bank transfer
- PayPal
- Payoneer
Your distributor’s payout schedule and fees affect how and when you get paid.
This connects to how Nigerian artists get paid differently on different platforms:
How Nigerian artists get paid from streaming platforms.
Common mistakes beginners make
Some mistakes I see often include:
- Uploading without correct metadata
- Missing artwork guidelines
- Using the wrong artist name format
- Not setting up payment methods before release
Avoiding these helps ensure your music goes live smoothly and your royalties aren’t delayed.
Distribution does not guarantee streams
Distribution only places your music on platforms — it doesn’t guarantee streams. You still need promotion, playlisting, and fan engagement to get plays and income.
That’s why streaming income should be part of a wider strategy, not the whole plan.
Independent vs label distribution
Independent artists choose and manage distribution themselves. Label artists often have this managed by their label, but that usually means sharing a percentage of royalties with the label.
This is similar to how streaming income splits differ, which I explained here:
Independent artists vs label artists on streaming income.
Final thoughts
Digital music distribution is the foundation of earning from streaming platforms. Without distribution, your music cannot reach a global audience, and your potential income stays unrealized. But once you understand how it works — from preparing your music to collecting your royalties — it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your career.
Need help distributing your music?
If you’re a Nigerian artist who needs help with digital music distribution — whether through TuneCore, CD Baby, or RouteNote — contact us at Taculia Records. We guide artists through every step of the process, helping your music get heard and paid for around the world.
