“Distribute Your Music Right Now” and Other Marketing BS: Why Fast Distribution Isn’t the Answer
There is only one metric that matters to artists: income. It’s how soon we can start making money from our music, get out of our mom’s basement, and build a sustainable career as musicians. That’s what distribution should be about — helping musicians live off the craft.
So, how does rushing to distribute fast help with any of this? Best we’ve heard was “Capitalize on a trend!”. But how does that benefit us long-term?
The “Urgency” Trap: Fast Distribution Doesn’t Equal Fast Income
Distributors hype up the urgency of pushing tracks out immediately, tapping into our fear of missing out. The promise is that if we release music quickly, we’ll somehow be on the fast track to success.
But speed has nothing to do with income.
A track can go viral whether it’s released quickly or slowly. Quality and sustainability are key — can your music continue to earn for you once it’s out there and how do you keep growing as an artist? Speed of distribution doesn’t help with any of these.
The Only Metric That Matters: Artist Income
Income is by far the most important metric to a musician in a distributor. What’s the point of having your music on every streaming platform if you’re not seeing any return, or even worse — if you are paying more to keep your catalogue online than you are earning from it? Streaming payouts are notoriously low. The real question is: What are distributors doing to ensure artists earn a fair amount?
At Freecords, for instance, we ensure that 100% of the royalties go to the artist, and that there are no barriers preventing musicians from making a living from their work.
What to look for in Distribution?
Distribution should be about building sustainable income for artists. It should allow you the freedom to focus on your art instead of scraping for rent with a side hustle or chasing a trend for a quick buck. Artists should be free to focus on quality, self exploration and personal growth because that’s how you create a lasting, meaningful career that you and your family can be proud of.
Focus on Sustainability, Not Speed
Quick or even instant distribution doesn’t lead to success in the music industry. It won’t solve any of the bigger challenges either — getting paid fairly, building an audience, and growing a lasting career. Success comes from sustainable growth and focus on quality over speed.
Build a Career, Not a Moment
Music isn’t a sprint — it’s a lifelong journey. Chasing fast distribution won’t magically create success, and rushing to release without a plan only benefits the distributors, not the artists. Instead of focusing on how quickly a song goes live, musicians should focus on building a foundation that ensures longevity, fair pay, and artistic growth.