Music Aggregator
Service that distributes independent artists' music to streaming platforms and digital stores, handling technical delivery and royalty collection.
Definition
A music aggregator (or digital distributor) is a service that enables independent artists and labels to distribute their music to streaming platforms, digital stores, and social media services without needing direct deals with each platform. Aggregators handle the technical requirements of delivering music to dozens of services (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.), ensure metadata is properly formatted, collect and distribute royalties, and provide analytics dashboards tracking streams and earnings.
Aggregators bridge the gap between independent artists and major platforms that don't work directly with individuals. Some aggregators charge annual fees (DistroKid, TuneCore), others take revenue percentages (AWAL for qualifying artists), and some are free with premium upgrades (RouteNote, Amuse). Services typically include features like automatic royalty splitting between collaborators, pre-release marketing tools, and playlist pitching assistance.
Why It Matters
For independent artists, aggregators provide access to the same distribution channels as major labels without the need for a record deal. Before aggregators existed, getting music on iTunes or Spotify required a label or prohibitively expensive direct deals. Now, any artist can distribute globally for modest fees or even free, democratizing music distribution.
The choice of aggregator significantly impacts artists' revenue and rights. Some services take ownership of recordings or require exclusive distribution periods. Others charge higher fees but allow artists to retain 100% of royalties. Understanding these differences is crucial—choosing the wrong aggregator can cost thousands in fees or lost royalties over time. Many successful independent artists credit their careers to having full control and maximum earnings through smart aggregator choices.
Examples in Practice
An emerging artist uses DistroKid's $19.99/year unlimited upload plan to release singles monthly, building a catalog of 24 songs over two years. They retain 100% of streaming royalties and their music is available on 150+ platforms worldwide. When one song goes viral on TikTok, all streaming revenue flows directly to them without label middlemen—earning $45,000 in royalties their first viral year.
A band releases their debut album through an aggregator that takes 15% of royalties but charges no upfront fees. After their album generates only $800 in first-year streaming income, they realize they would have kept $120 more using a flat-fee service. When the album eventually earns $50,000, they've lost $7,500 in cumulative fees—learning too late that percentage-based models only make sense for artists earning less than $2,000 annually.
A producer distributes through an aggregator offering automatic splits, allowing them to fairly divide royalties among multiple collaborators without manual calculations or separate payments. When a collaboration unexpectedly generates significant streaming income, the automatic split function saves hours of accounting work and prevents disputes over payment distribution.