As more artists seek to retain control of their master recordings, distribution for indie labels and acts has become the music industry’s new frontier. Billboard looks at how the business has evolved, offers a guide to the players and answers the big questions that musicians and their managers are asking about making this competitive market work for them.
Read the full Deep Dive here.
The Evolution — And Boom — of Music Distribution
Data and marketing are now part of the business of distribution — and business is booming. Read more.
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Why Streaming Platforms Are Getting Into Distribution
TikTok and SoundCloud have ventured into a crowded market that rival Spotify abandoned after less than a year. Here’s why they — and a number of artist managers — think they can succeed this time. Read more.
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Answers To The Top Questions About Independent Distribution
The process of choosing a distributor can be difficult and confusing for indie artists and labels. Billboard deconstructs the market and demystifies the process. Read more.
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Picking The Right Distributor: 7 Tips For Indie Artists
Artist managers break down the three tiers of distribution services, how to find one that best suits your needs and what to do before signing a contract. Read more.
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A guide to distributors — from major-label-owned services to direct-upload indie platforms — that help artists and labels cut through the noise. Read more.
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