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How to distribute to Amazon Music

A guide for artists, record labels, and music app developers

If you're an artist, a record label, or a music app developer, distributing your music to streaming platforms is essential for reaching a broad audience. Amazon Music, with its millions of subscribers worldwide, is one such platform that can significantly boost your visibility and revenue. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps of getting your music on Amazon Music, the benefits, and what to expect in terms of revenue.

Why distribute music to Amazon Music?

Amazon Music is a popular streaming service with millions of active users. By distributing your music on Amazon Music, you can tap into a vast audience, potentially increasing your fanbase and revenue. The platform supports high-quality streaming and offers various plans, including Amazon Music Unlimited and Amazon Music HD, which cater to different types of listeners.

Amazon Music is one of the top streaming services globally, holding a significant market share. According to a 2022 report by MIDiA Research, Amazon Music accounted for approximately 15% of the global music streaming market, making it the third-largest service behind Spotify and Apple Music.

Popular countries for Amazon Music include the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. These regions represent major markets where Amazon Music has a substantial user base, providing artists with opportunities to reach a wide audience.

Steps to distribute music to Amazon Music

1. Choose a digital distribution service

To get your music on Amazon Music, you’ll need to use a digital distribution service. These services act as intermediaries, helping you upload your music to various online stores and streaming platforms, including Amazon Music.

Popular digital distribution services:

2. Prepare your music for distribution

Before you can upload your music, ensure you have all the necessary components ready:

  • High-quality audio files: WAV or FLAC formats are typically preferred.
  • Album artwork: High-resolution images that meet the distributor’s specifications.
  • Metadata: Information such as song titles, album name, artist name, genre, and release date.

3. Upload your music

Once you’ve chosen a distribution service and prepared your materials, follow the platform's instructions to upload your music. This process usually involves:

  • Creating an account: Sign up for an account on your chosen distribution service.
  • Uploading audio files: Upload your high-quality audio files.
  • Adding metadata: Enter all relevant information about your music.
  • Setting pricing: Decide how much you want to charge for your music on Amazon Music, if applicable.

4. Select Amazon Music as a distribution platform

During the upload process, you’ll be given the option to choose which platforms you want your music to be available on. Ensure that Amazon Music is selected. Some services may have a separate option for Amazon Music and Amazon Store, so be sure to select the appropriate option.

5. Submit and monitor your release

After submitting your music, the distribution service will handle the rest. Your music will be reviewed and then made available on Amazon Music. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Keep an eye on your email for any updates or additional requests for information.

What they pay artists/record labels

One of the key considerations for any artist or label is the potential revenue from distributing music. On Amazon Music, earnings are primarily generated through streaming royalties, and the payment structure typically works as follows:

Revenue breakdown

  • Streaming royalties: Artists and record labels are paid per stream. The exact amount per stream can vary based on factors such as the listener’s location, subscription plan, and the distribution service used. Generally, you can expect to earn around $0.004 to $0.005 per stream on Amazon Music.

Payment timelines

Payments from digital distribution services to artists and record labels are usually made on a monthly basis, although this can vary by service. Most services offer direct deposit, PayPal, or other electronic payment methods.

Conclusion

Distributing your music to Amazon Music can significantly enhance your reach and revenue potential. By following the steps outlined in this guide and leveraging a reliable digital distribution service, you can ensure that your music is accessible to millions of potential listeners and buyers worldwide.

While you're focusing on distribution, don't forget to use Musicfetch for tracking and promoting your music. Their APIs can help you manage your music links across multiple platforms, making it easier to share and promote your work. For more information and to get started, visit Musicfetch.

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