What Is The Best Music Distributor To Transfer Your Songs From One Distributor To Another
What is the best music distributor to transfer your songs from one distributor to another? A comparison.
Amuse
This article shows a comparison for the different offerings when it comes to moving your releases from one music distributor to another.
As we all know there is a world of different music distributors out there, you may have been with a distributor for a while and looking for a change! The good news is that you can actually transfer your releases from one distributor to another, this article shows a comparison between the most popular music distribution platforms. As a new intern at Amuse, I did not know I could transfer my song from my old distributor to a new one. It turns out it’s a lot easier than you may think depending on the music distributor that you choose.
The benefits of using a release importer rather than having to re-upload your songs at a new distributor is that:
You will not need to spend time filling out the release information again.
It's the smoothest way to facilitate track syncing so the stream count and playlist placements stay intact.
In this comparison, Amuse, Symphonic Distribution, LANDR and Too Lost offer dedicated release-transfer tools, while DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby do not. The key differences to consider are how much information each distributor helps you transfer, ease of use, as well as what services and offerings they have once you are on their platform.
Distributor comparison
The table compares the most popular distributors for importing your releases.
Amuse
Symphonic
LANDR
Distrokid
Tunecore
Dedicated release importer
Yes – Release Importer
Yes – TransferTrack
Yes – Release Importer
No
No dedicated importer
Imports audio
No
Yes
No
No
No
Imports artwork
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Imports artist info
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Releases stay live after subscription ends
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
iOS and Android apps
Yes
No
No
No
No
*By after transfer this means the distributor offers this feature, however, it must be done after the transfer is complete and is not an integrated feature with the import tool.
Do they have a dedicated release importer?
Amuse, Symphonic Distribution, LANDR and Too Lost offer dedicated release-transfer tools, while DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Ditto Music, UnitedMasters and Identity Music do not. Choosing a distributor with a dedicated release importer is recommended as it helps you fetch the metadata for the releases for you such as, artwork, artist info, ISRC codes so you don’t have to fill it in all again. Amuse now supports importing releases on the go, via the Amuse app on iOS and Android!
Ease of use and manual work
When it comes to ease of use for the different release importers some offer more features built in to the importer which saves you time and effort. For example with Amuse the release importer offers the ability to add your royalty splits in the importer tool, simply add the email address to the royalty splits section and add the % that they own, they will then get an email showing how they can access their royalties. Amuse also offers the option to add lyrics for your releases which Too Lost also offers. Some release importers offer the ability to import artists' data, which can save a significant amount of time. However, Too Lost does not import artist data such as who were the writers and composers of the track,
*Disclaimer the release must have artists info added previously, some older releases do not have this.
Key comparison point
The key differentiators here are does the distributor offer a release transfer tool as part of their service, DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Ditto Music, UnitedMasters and Identity Music do not. Secondly, how easy is the release importer to use? All the importers do not offer the same features when importing and the ease of use is subjective, Amuse offers more features built in to the tool, you have the ability to add royalty splits while doing the import process, as well as opting in for UGC/content ID, Amuse also imports the artists information including the names of the writers and composers of the track. This reduces the amount of work that needs to be done after you have transferred your releases and essentially once you have completed the release importer you are good to go with Amuse! Not only is the import process smooth with Amuse but once on there you have the unique benefits which Amuse offers, which is fast release times (under 24h), keep 100% of your royalties (including UGC/Content ID, which is $14.95 add on at Distrokid and they take a 20% cut of the revenue after that), and with Amuse if you ever decide to take a break in your music and cancel the subscription you can still be calm knowing your release will stay up.
Distributor How to Guides
Amuse
Check out Amuses how to guide which guides you through the step by step process for transferring your releases using their release import tool.
Symphonic
Check out symphonics how to guide, *keep in mind that they will take down your track if you cancel your subscription with them.
LANDR
Here is LANDRs how to guide for switching distributors, their base offering starts at 24% and will take a 20% content ID revenue cut no matter what plan you have.
https://support.landr.com/hc/en-us/articles/4821707948951-How-do-I-get-paid-for-my-music-on-YouTube
FAQ
Can I move my whole catalog with Release Importer?
Release Importer moves one release at a time. It is designed to help you import an existing release into Amuse. Using Release Importer can speed up the process significantly, as much of the release metadata is filled in automatically.
Do I need an Amuse subscription to use Release Importer?
You can try Release Builder and Release Importer without an active subscription. However, to deliver your release to digital service providers (DSPs), you need an active Amuse subscription.
Does the release need to be live on Spotify?
Yes. Release Importer works with releases that are currently live on Spotify. You can search for your release or paste the Spotify album link directly.
What information does Release Importer import?
Release Importer retrieves available release data and pre-fills the matching fields. This can include cover art, release title, track information, ISRCs, and other available metadata.
Do I still need to upload my audio files?
Yes. You need to upload your audio files manually and complete any required fields that could not be imported.
What happens to my stream count when I switch distributors?
To maximise the chances of retaining your stream count, your release details must match those of the version currently available on streaming platforms. Before submitting, make sure the titles, track order, artist names, songwriters, and ISRCs match exactly.
What happens to my playlist placements?
Matching metadata gives your release the best chance of remaining correctly linked across platforms. Playlist placement behaviour can vary, so make sure all key release details match exactly and wait until your Amuse version is live before taking down the old version.
You should first see your stream counts match. After you remove the release from your previous distributor, playlist information may take additional time to sync. Please allow some time for this process to complete.
When should I remove the release from my old distributor?
Wait until your release is live through Amuse before requesting a takedown from your previous distributor. Your release may temporarily appear twice on Spotify while the versions are being linked. This can be part of the transfer process.
Does Amuse take down the release from my old distributor for me?
No. Once your release has been reviewed, approved, and made available through Amuse, you need to request a takedown from your previous distributor yourself.
Are compilation releases supported?
No. Compilation releases are not currently supported.
Are multi-disc releases supported?
Partially. You can import a multi-disc release, but the tracks will not automatically be organised into separate discs. Our support team can help you arrange the release manually. Contact the team as soon as you have submitted your release, before it has been approved and delivered to stores.
Can I import more than one release?
Yes. However, you need to import each release individually, one at a time.
What should I check before submitting my imported release?
Check that your cover art, release title, track titles, track order, artist names, songwriters, ISRCs, and audio files match the version currently available on streaming platforms. This helps provide the correct information for platforms to link your release properly.
Sources
https://dittomusic.com/en/pricing
https://support.landr.com/hc/en-us/articles/4821707948951-How-do-I-get-paid-for-my-music-on-YouTube
https://support.landr.com/hc/en-us/articles/4821707948951-How-do-I-get-paid-for-my-music-on-YouTube
https://help.toolost.com/hc/en-us/articles/360055480812-How-Do-I-Set-Up-a-Royalty-Split
