🎵 Sign up for Symphonic's Starter Plan today and get a whopping 25% discount! 💰💰💰 👉 Click here to get started: hubs.li/Q01RSFwzO 👈 Use Discount Code: GD25OFF
@@dainywest Do you mean do they have a sort of "Leave a Legacy" functionality like DistroKid? If so then, based on the information provided in the Symphonic Starter FAQ, if you cancel your account, you will have access to it until the term of one year expires, at which point your content will be taken down. This suggests that Symphonic does not offer a feature similar to DistroKid's "Leave a Legacy" feature. If you end your subscription with Symphonic, your music will be removed from the platforms they distribute to after your subscription term ends. However, it's important to note that takedowns of the content across each of Symphonic Distribution's partner platforms may take up to 1 full year, with no guarantee that the partner will proceed and approve the takedown of the product. This suggests that while Symphonic Distribution will attempt to take down the content from their partner platforms, there is no guarantee that all platforms will comply with the takedown request. It's also not explicitly stated whether the music will remain on the platforms if the takedown request is not complied with. Not legal advice or anything, but generally speaking, I surmise that if you end your subscription your content will also be removed. In which case, I would advice that if you were thinking of switching distribution services, to just do that before canceling from any service. Then, you're good to go.
Great questions! My take is that releasing something at least once a month helps keep momentum. Batch producing is a game-changer because it lets you focus on promoting the work you’ve already made, rather than always being in production mode. I know, promotion isn’t the fun part, but if you’re spending all this time and money to make music, only promoting it for a day can really hold you back as an independent artist. With over 100,000 songs dropping daily, standing out takes more than just the music itself. As for payouts, it really depends on your distribution service provider (DSP). Most collect royalties from different streaming platforms and allow you to withdraw once you hit a certain threshold. But remember, streaming alone isn’t always enough to make substantial money-it takes a lot of streams to see significant payouts. It’s also super important to register with PROs like BMI or ASCAP and use services like SongTrust or Sound Exchange to make sure you’re collecting royalties from all possible sources. Some artists are sitting on uncollected royalties and don’t even know it! The key is building your catalog over time and creating a consistent marketing strategy for each release. These days, music can act as an asset you leverage in other ways, whether it’s through brand deals, sync placements, or merch. While making money from my music is nice, for me, it’s more about the creative process and leaving something that will last beyond me. That’s probably deeper than you were looking for, but setting clear expectations and aligning your actions with your goals is crucial in today’s industry!
Super helpful that you mentioned the access to real people in customer service, because the idea of not being able to reach somebody at my distributor is pretty scary.
Yeah, it’s definitely something to consider and many times can speed any help desk inquiries if you can jump straight to a human on the line. Granted, DK’s online FAQ is pretty robust, sometimes you just want to jump to your specific challenge or issue. Thanks for tuning in to the channel 📺
@@geryahdinglemusic Yeah some other platforms have horror stories about earnings being deleted and songs deleted, musicians left with no recourse - only being able to complain on a blank website contact form and never being able to get a response. Would say if anthing wierd like that happened on symphonic that I could call the company and actually get ahold of somebody to fix it? If so I'm definitely going with Symphonic. Thanks!
Hi, I would like to use symphonic as my main distribution company. I just want to know if you can add other other artist as primary on song releases as I collaborate alot with other artists. thanks in advance
Hey there! 👋🏽 Thanks for tuning in and for your interest in using Symphonic. I think it’s great that you’re considering them for sharing your music 🎼 In response to your question, yes, you can certainly add other artists as primary on your song releases, especially since collaboration is such a key part of your music creation. When you’re setting up your release, for each track that has multiple artists, you can use the ‘+Add Artist’ button to include all collaborators as primary artists. Remember, each artist should be listed individually to ensure proper credit and visibility on streaming platforms. 🌐 If you’re releasing an album with five or more primary artists, you’ll need to use the term “Various Artists” at the album level. Just a heads-up, “Various Artists” should not be used at the track level - that’s reserved for individual artist names only. This helps keep things clear on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. 🎧 For albums with more than four primary artists, the platform will automatically categorize it under “Various Artists” upon delivery to Spotify, and you should set it as such for Apple Music as well. If you have more detailed questions or need further assistance, the Symphonic customer service team and FAQ page are a great place to start. They can guide you through the specifics of listing artists for your releases and ensure that everything is set up just right. 🛠️ Thanks again for reaching out and for being part of our community! Continue using your talent for good!
@@geryahdinglemusic thank you. I signed up last night after seeing your video and I used your promo code. However when I was doing my release. I signed out for the starter plan btw. it doesn’t allow me to add any other primary artist. I allows me to do featured artists but not primary which is disappointing.
Yes, Symphonic’s Starter Plan allows only one primary artist per account. This plan costs $19.99 annually, and while you can release unlimited tracks and albums with that primary artist, you cannot have multiple primary artists under the same account. However, you can include featuring or remixer artists on your tracks at no extra charge. If you’re looking to manage releases with multiple primary artists, you would need to upgrade to their Partner Plan, which allows more flexibility for established artists or labels.
No. If it ask you for record lable info, you can just list your own. Now, there are certain distributors that only deal with certain artists or, perhaps, they offer a boutique service at a certain tier, but for the sake of what I talk about in this video, you don't need a label to distribute your music with these services.
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by the channel. Symphonic allows you to add contributors to your tracks, such as producers, bandmates, songwriters, etc., using their SplitShare feature. When uploading a new release, the primary artist(s) should be those in your roster. If they are not, you will be prompted to add them. However, this field should not include featuring or remixer artists. If your release has 5+ primary artists with no focal artist, you should select 'Various Artists'. So, if your 3 artists are considered primary for the song, you should be able to add them.
Do you mean do they have a sort of "Leave a Legacy" functionality like DistroKid? If so then, based on the information provided in the Symphonic Starter FAQ, if you cancel your account, you will have access to it until the term of one year expires, at which point your content will be taken down. This suggests that Symphonic does not offer a feature similar to DistroKid's "Leave a Legacy" feature. If you end your subscription with Symphonic, your music will be removed from the platforms they distribute to after your subscription term ends. However, it's important to note that takedowns of the content across each of Symphonic Distribution's partner platforms may take up to 1 full year, with no guarantee that the partner will proceed and approve the takedown of the product. This suggests that while Symphonic Distribution will attempt to take down the content from their partner platforms, there is no guarantee that all platforms will comply with the takedown request. It's also not explicitly stated whether the music will remain on the platforms if the takedown request is not complied with. Not legal advice or anything, but generally speaking, I surmise that if you end your subscription your content will also be removed. In which case, I would advise that if you were thinking of switching distribution services, to just do that before canceling from any service. Then, you're good to go.
Hey @Djmudmakeudance, great question! 👏 While it’s technically possible to sign with multiple DSPs (like TuneCore and Symphonic), it’s usually best to stick with one at a time for a smoother experience. Here’s why: 1. Stream Count Consistency 🎧: If you’re with multiple platforms, your streams might get split across them, making it hard to track your overall performance in one place. Staying with one DSP keeps everything in one hub. 2. Royalty Management 💰: Working with one DSP means all your royalties and revenue are collected in one place, making it easier to track your income and avoid double-dipping issues. 3. Simplified Release Management 🎵: It’s just easier to manage your releases, metadata, and promotions through a single channel, ensuring nothing gets lost in the mix. If you’re thinking about switching, make sure to check the details of any current contracts you have! Hope that helps! 😎
I signed up for Symphonic starter plan but a producer I work with says DistroKid is good. Im just started back in music. I have already produced a full high end music video along with a single song release. I am a single rap singing artist. No group no producer contract just me. It sounds like Symphonic is good. But Distokid allows for 100% keeping of music video royalties. Symphonic keeps 30% of music video royalties. Im not sure if I should go ahead and release with Symphonic or should I go to Distrokid. I do not relay know how to do any of those things Symphonic offers to do for me that Distrokid does not offer or do for me. What do you think I should do. ??
Hi @DavidemetriLIC, thank you so much for taking the time to share your situation and leave a comment! It sounds like you’re weighing some important factors in deciding between Symphonic and DistroKid. When choosing a distributor, it’s essential to consider the pros and cons of each service. They all have specific language in their terms of service that could impact you differently, depending on your goals. For example, if keeping 100% of your music video royalties is a priority, DistroKid’s DistroVid could be a solid choice. However, if you find value in the additional support and tools Symphonic offers-like helping with things you may not be familiar with-that might be worth the 30% royalty trade-off. I also encourage you to think about whether switching distribution services in the future is something you might consider or if you’re looking for a more set-it-and-forget-it platform. Additionally, as you’re producing full-blown music videos, you’ll want to factor in how video distribution plays into your strategy as more content becomes tied to each release. To help with your decision, I just published a video titled “Best Music Distributor for Indie Artists in 2025: DistroKid vs. TuneCore, CD Baby, & Symphonic 🎤💰”, where I dive deeper into comparisons like this. You can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/3Y9ereGSSdE/v-deo.html. Thanks again for stopping by the channel, and I hope this helps clarify some of your thoughts!
@@DavidemetriLIC Hey @DavidemetriLIC, great question! Yes, you can distribute your video through DistroVid, which is DistroKid’s music video distribution service. It’s a straightforward choice if you’re looking for an annual plan that allows unlimited music video releases while keeping 100% of your royalties. However, if you prefer a pay-per-upload model or if you want a combined service for both music and video, Symphonic and PeakSound are other options. Symphonic charges per video but offers access to multiple platforms, while PeakSound combines music and video distribution under one annual fee, though there are extra costs for platforms like Apple Music or Vevo. To get a more detailed breakdown, I recommend checking out this video by @WestheTechProductions: ua-cam.com/video/TtPhGzIPQm0/v-deo.html He covers a comparison of the top music video distribution services that might help you decide what’s best for your needs! Let me know if you have any more questions, and I might dive deeper into this topic in a future video!
I’ve created a couple of videos that delve into my music promotion process. The first one, ‘Hypeddit Music Ad Automation | AI Facebook Ads for Music,’ gives an inside look at setting up AI-powered ad campaigns, which can be super effective. The second, ‘How to Release a Single on Spotify in 2023 (Step-by-Step),’ walks you through a detailed 21-day plan for promoting new music releases. Both are available on my channel, so feel free to dive in, and I hope they help you with your promotion and advertising efforts!
@@anvyloriginals Thanks for letting me know the site is not working as it should for the audience. I’ve reached out this morning to my marketing coordinator at Symphonic to rectify. I will update here. Again, no intent to false advertise. The techs there engineered the link for tracking and we may need to add an input for you all to place in the “add discount code” here box to update. I will announce when I hear back from them (hopefully, today). Thanks again.
my songs will always be available when my 1 year subscription expires? I need to know this before I subscribe! plus, I would also be interested in the yt content id, whether it is approved for royalty-free vocal Please Answer me
Do you mean do they have a sort of "Leave a Legacy" functionality like DistroKid? If so then, based on the information provided in the Symphonic Starter FAQ, if you cancel your account, you will have access to it until the term of one year expires, at which point your content will be taken down. This suggests that Symphonic does not offer a feature similar to DistroKid's "Leave a Legacy" feature. If you end your subscription with Symphonic, your music will be removed from the platforms they distribute to after your subscription term ends. However, it's important to note that takedowns of the content across each of Symphonic Distribution's partner platforms may take up to 1 full year, with no guarantee that the partner will proceed and approve the takedown of the product. This suggests that while Symphonic Distribution will attempt to take down the content from their partner platforms, there is no guarantee that all platforms will comply with the takedown request. It's also not explicitly stated whether the music will remain on the platforms if the takedown request is not complied with. Not legal advice or anything, but generally speaking, I surmise that if you end your subscription your content will also be removed. In which case, I would advice that if you were thinking of switching distribution services, to just do that before canceling from any service. Then, you're good to go. And yes, Symphonic Distribution does offer UA-cam Content ID services. For established artists and labels they also offer Custom % on UA-cam and UGC partners on their Partner Plan. Note, certain UA-cam Content ID feature are only available for their distribution clients and you have to apply for that. They have a dedicated staff that will not only monetize your videos but place fingerprints and looks for other videos that UA-cam’s fingerprinting program does not pick up. Their team will scan each and every song in your catalog to ensure that they either monetize or takedown videos uploaded by third party individuals.
Me too coz whack distributors like iMusician will not remove your music when you do not renew your subscription and this is exactly why i left distrokid and at iMusician you do not even pay any extra for that, If symphonic takes down your music then i guess i will have to say thanks but No thanks.
Yes, you can whitelist your UA-cam channel or specific songs through Symphonic. This process is called allowlisting, and it prevents UA-cam Content ID from claiming videos on channels that you’ve approved to use your content, including your own. This is especially useful if you’re distributing music and want to prevent automated claims on your own uploads or if you’ve granted someone else permission to use your music on their channel. To get started, you need to submit a request through Symphonic’s support system, and they will review your allowlisting request on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind that they may deny requests if they believe it could negatively impact users, and they also periodically review allowlisted channels to ensure compliance. For more details, check out their guide here: support.symdistro.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020766411-UA-cam-Allowlisting. Note: I typically use Song Trust for this task, but it appears Symphonic supports it as well.
Thanks for dropping by the channel! When it comes to Symphonic Music Distribution, they have a percentage deal with the DSPs, not a fixed cut of an artist’s streaming royalties. So, the amount you as an artist take home depends on the net revenue Symphonic receives from these platforms, which can fluctuate based on various factors. For downloads, if you have a deal where you keep 80% of the revenue, you’d get $0.55 out of a $0.99 sale after iTunes takes its share. Streaming is more complex, with no set pay-per-stream rate due to different streaming models and territories. No music distribution service has a fixed “pay-per-stream” rate, as many factors influence the royalty payments to artists from streaming platforms. These factors include the listener’s country and location, the type of account (paid or free), the specific artist’s royalty rate, and the relative pricing and currency in different regions. The estimated per-stream figures vary for each service; for example, Napster pays about $0.019 per stream, Tidal pays around $0.01284, and Spotify pays approximately $0.00437. It’s also important to remember that these rates are not guaranteed and can differ based on the variables mentioned. In the music distribution industry, the cut taken by services like Symphonic is not out of the ordinary. The complexity of streaming royalties is an industry-wide issue, not specific to Symphonic. The key takeaway is that rates are not only inconsistent across platforms but also across different deals between distribution services and DSPs. Artists should consider both the potential earnings and the exposure they can gain from being on various streaming platforms.
For the 19.99 starter plan can I upload music under a custom label name? It just looks better. The only downfall I see with Symphonic is that the lyrics don’t sync to Instagram
Hey 👋🏾 Thanks for your comment. Regarding your question about the custom label name, yes, you can definitely upload music under a custom label name with the $19.99 starter plan. As for the lyrics not syncing to Instagram, Symphonic actually has a partnership with Musixmatch, which is a platform where artists can submit lyrics for their songs. Once the lyrics have gone through the Musixmatch review/approval process, those lyrics will be available on multiple platforms, including Instagram. To get started, you'll need to claim your artist profile on Musixmatch and achieve a “Curator” status. This means that the lyrics you submit through your profile are more trusted, and the approval process will be expedited. Your lyrics will be available on the platforms after being approved by Musixmatch. You'll also need to create a Musixmatch account to tie your Artist Profile to. It's similar to how you need to have a Spotify account before claiming a Spotify for Artist account. I hope this helps! Thanks for tuning in to the channel 😊
Great question! For costs, I haven’t looked into the specifics for Symphonic Distribution’s Starter Plan concerning motion art, so I wouldn’t want to speculate. Typically, advanced features like motion art might not be included in starter tiers, but it’s always best to check directly with Symphonic to confirm (or maybe they will chime in 😊). As for motion art, it’s commonly used for albums or EPs, though some distributors at onset, like Apple Music, did not allow motion art for singles (based on some sources like Absolute Label Services). However, most of that has changed now as motion artwork has become more common. So, there is now more flexibility with this (you can check Fine Guerre’s take on this at fineguerre.com/blog/animated-cover-art-apple-music/). When it comes to payouts, services like Symphonic typically collect royalties from various streaming platforms and allow you to withdraw once you hit a minimum threshold. The actual amount varies by service, so it’s worth checking with your distributor for specifics. If you’re serious about leveraging these features, you might want to explore Apple’s Preferred Plus Partners for more advanced options. Here’s a list of partners and their capabilities (You can see which DSPs support motion art, etc.): itunespartner.apple.com/music/partners. Hope this helps!
🎵 Sign up for Symphonic's Starter Plan today and get a whopping 25% discount! 💰💰💰
👉 Click here to get started: hubs.li/Q01RSFwzO 👈 Use Discount Code: GD25OFF
Do we have to pay for legacy for symphonic ?
Thanks, and one more question Will my song gat remove if I stop using symphonic ?
Done
Thank you! I’d never heard of symphonic before. Perfect timing!
@@dainywest Do you mean do they have a sort of "Leave a Legacy" functionality like DistroKid? If so then, based on the information provided in the Symphonic Starter FAQ, if you cancel your account, you will have access to it until the term of one year expires, at which point your content will be taken down. This suggests that Symphonic does not offer a feature similar to DistroKid's
"Leave a Legacy" feature. If you end your subscription with Symphonic, your music will be removed from the platforms they distribute to after your subscription term ends.
However, it's important to note that takedowns of the content across each of Symphonic Distribution's partner platforms may take up to 1 full year, with no guarantee that the partner will proceed and approve the takedown of the product.
This suggests that while Symphonic Distribution will attempt to take down the content from their partner platforms, there is no guarantee that all platforms will comply with the takedown request. It's also not explicitly stated whether the music will remain on the platforms if the takedown request is not complied with.
Not legal advice or anything, but generally speaking, I surmise that if you end your subscription your content will also be removed. In which case, I would advice that if you were thinking of switching distribution services, to just do that before canceling from any service.
Then, you're good to go.
Signed up using your link! Thanks
That’s awesome! Hope to see some new music releases 🎶
Moving the old stuff over now
@@doce.c.1365 How has it been so far?
How long does it take to release new music and how often do they payout ? Do their payouts add up ?
Great questions! My take is that releasing something at least once a month helps keep momentum. Batch producing is a game-changer because it lets you focus on promoting the work you’ve already made, rather than always being in production mode. I know, promotion isn’t the fun part, but if you’re spending all this time and money to make music, only promoting it for a day can really hold you back as an independent artist. With over 100,000 songs dropping daily, standing out takes more than just the music itself.
As for payouts, it really depends on your distribution service provider (DSP). Most collect royalties from different streaming platforms and allow you to withdraw once you hit a certain threshold. But remember, streaming alone isn’t always enough to make substantial money-it takes a lot of streams to see significant payouts. It’s also super important to register with PROs like BMI or ASCAP and use services like SongTrust or Sound Exchange to make sure you’re collecting royalties from all possible sources. Some artists are sitting on uncollected royalties and don’t even know it!
The key is building your catalog over time and creating a consistent marketing strategy for each release. These days, music can act as an asset you leverage in other ways, whether it’s through brand deals, sync placements, or merch. While making money from my music is nice, for me, it’s more about the creative process and leaving something that will last beyond me. That’s probably deeper than you were looking for, but setting clear expectations and aligning your actions with your goals is crucial in today’s industry!
Super helpful that you mentioned the access to real people in customer service, because the idea of not being able to reach somebody at my distributor is pretty scary.
Yeah, it’s definitely something to consider and many times can speed any help desk inquiries if you can jump straight to a human on the line. Granted, DK’s online FAQ is pretty robust, sometimes you just want to jump to your specific challenge or issue. Thanks for tuning in to the channel 📺
@@geryahdinglemusic Yeah some other platforms have horror stories about earnings being deleted and songs deleted, musicians left with no recourse - only being able to complain on a blank website contact form and never being able to get a response. Would say if anthing wierd like that happened on symphonic that I could call the company and actually get ahold of somebody to fix it? If so I'm definitely going with Symphonic. Thanks!
Hi, I would like to use symphonic as my main distribution company. I just want to know if you can add other other artist as primary on song releases as I collaborate alot with other artists.
thanks in advance
Hey there! 👋🏽
Thanks for tuning in and for your interest in using Symphonic. I think it’s great that you’re considering them for sharing your music 🎼
In response to your question, yes, you can certainly add other artists as primary on your song releases, especially since collaboration is such a key part of your music creation. When you’re setting up your release, for each track that has multiple artists, you can use the ‘+Add Artist’ button to include all collaborators as primary artists. Remember, each artist should be listed individually to ensure proper credit and visibility on streaming platforms. 🌐
If you’re releasing an album with five or more primary artists, you’ll need to use the term “Various Artists” at the album level. Just a heads-up, “Various Artists” should not be used at the track level - that’s reserved for individual artist names only. This helps keep things clear on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. 🎧
For albums with more than four primary artists, the platform will automatically categorize it under “Various Artists” upon delivery to Spotify, and you should set it as such for Apple Music as well.
If you have more detailed questions or need further assistance, the Symphonic customer service team and FAQ page are a great place to start. They can guide you through the specifics of listing artists for your releases and ensure that everything is set up just right. 🛠️
Thanks again for reaching out and for being part of our community! Continue using your talent for good!
@@geryahdinglemusic thank you. I signed up last night after seeing your video and I used your promo code. However when I was doing my release. I signed out for the starter plan btw. it doesn’t allow me to add any other primary artist. I allows me to do featured artists but not primary which is disappointing.
hey, i want to ask do the starter package really only include one primary artist, like you cant do 2 or more?
Yes, Symphonic’s Starter Plan allows only one primary artist per account. This plan costs $19.99 annually, and while you can release unlimited tracks and albums with that primary artist, you cannot have multiple primary artists under the same account. However, you can include featuring or remixer artists on your tracks at no extra charge.
If you’re looking to manage releases with multiple primary artists, you would need to upgrade to their Partner Plan, which allows more flexibility for established artists or labels.
I certainly found this helpful. Thank you!
That's awesome. Glad it was helpful!
Hello, Do you need to be on a record label to release music on these distributers?
No. If it ask you for record lable info, you can just list your own. Now, there are certain distributors that only deal with certain artists or, perhaps, they offer a boutique service at a certain tier, but for the sake of what I talk about in this video, you don't need a label to distribute your music with these services.
Hey I was wondering if you can add up to 3 primary artists on a song with the starter plan
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by the channel. Symphonic allows you to add contributors to your tracks, such as producers, bandmates, songwriters, etc., using their SplitShare feature. When uploading a new release, the primary artist(s) should be those in your roster. If they are not, you will be prompted to add them. However, this field should not include featuring or remixer artists. If your release has 5+ primary artists with no focal artist, you should select 'Various Artists'. So, if your 3 artists are considered primary for the song, you should be able to add them.
Do we have to pay for legacy for symphonic ?
Do you mean do they have a sort of "Leave a Legacy" functionality like DistroKid? If so then, based on the information provided in the Symphonic Starter FAQ, if you cancel your account, you will have access to it until the term of one year expires, at which point your content will be taken down. This suggests that Symphonic does not offer a feature similar to DistroKid's "Leave a Legacy" feature. If you end your subscription with Symphonic, your music will be removed from the platforms they distribute to after your subscription term ends.
However, it's important to note that takedowns of the content across each of Symphonic Distribution's partner platforms may take up to 1 full year, with no guarantee that the partner will proceed and approve the takedown of the product.
This suggests that while Symphonic Distribution will attempt to take down the content from their partner platforms, there is no guarantee that all platforms will comply with the takedown request. It's also not explicitly stated whether the music will remain on the platforms if the takedown request is not complied with.
Not legal advice or anything, but generally speaking, I surmise that if you end your subscription your content will also be removed. In which case, I would advise that if you were thinking of switching distribution services, to just do that before canceling from any service. Then, you're good to go.
Very informative video. Love the music and overal quality. Keep it up.
Thanks a lot for stopping by the channel. Appreciate the kind words and encouragement 🙏🏿😊
I’m with Tunecore would still be able sign with symphonic ?
Hey @Djmudmakeudance, great question! 👏 While it’s technically possible to sign with multiple DSPs (like TuneCore and Symphonic), it’s usually best to stick with one at a time for a smoother experience. Here’s why:
1. Stream Count Consistency 🎧: If you’re with multiple platforms, your streams might get split across them, making it hard to track your overall performance in one place. Staying with one DSP keeps everything in one hub.
2. Royalty Management 💰: Working with one DSP means all your royalties and revenue are collected in one place, making it easier to track your income and avoid double-dipping issues.
3. Simplified Release Management 🎵: It’s just easier to manage your releases, metadata, and promotions through a single channel, ensuring nothing gets lost in the mix.
If you’re thinking about switching, make sure to check the details of any current contracts you have! Hope that helps! 😎
I signed up for Symphonic starter plan but a producer I work with says DistroKid is good. Im just started back in music. I have already produced a full high end music video along with a single song release. I am a single rap singing artist. No group no producer contract just me. It sounds like Symphonic is good. But Distokid allows for 100% keeping of music video royalties. Symphonic keeps 30% of music video royalties. Im not sure if I should go ahead and release with Symphonic or should I go to Distrokid. I do not relay know how to do any of those things Symphonic offers to do for me that Distrokid does not offer or do for me. What do you think I should do. ??
Hi @DavidemetriLIC, thank you so much for taking the time to share your situation and leave a comment!
It sounds like you’re weighing some important factors in deciding between Symphonic and DistroKid. When choosing a distributor, it’s essential to consider the pros and cons of each service. They all have specific language in their terms of service that could impact you differently, depending on your goals. For example, if keeping 100% of your music video royalties is a priority, DistroKid’s DistroVid could be a solid choice. However, if you find value in the additional support and tools Symphonic offers-like helping with things you may not be familiar with-that might be worth the 30% royalty trade-off.
I also encourage you to think about whether switching distribution services in the future is something you might consider or if you’re looking for a more set-it-and-forget-it platform. Additionally, as you’re producing full-blown music videos, you’ll want to factor in how video distribution plays into your strategy as more content becomes tied to each release.
To help with your decision, I just published a video titled “Best Music Distributor for Indie Artists in 2025: DistroKid vs. TuneCore, CD Baby, & Symphonic 🎤💰”, where I dive deeper into comparisons like this. You can check it out here: ua-cam.com/video/3Y9ereGSSdE/v-deo.html.
Thanks again for stopping by the channel, and I hope this helps clarify some of your thoughts!
@@geryahdinglemusic I chose Symphonic for music or song distribution. Im wondering can I distribute my video through DistroVid?
@@DavidemetriLIC Hey @DavidemetriLIC, great question! Yes, you can distribute your video through DistroVid, which is DistroKid’s music video distribution service. It’s a straightforward choice if you’re looking for an annual plan that allows unlimited music video releases while keeping 100% of your royalties. However, if you prefer a pay-per-upload model or if you want a combined service for both music and video, Symphonic and PeakSound are other options. Symphonic charges per video but offers access to multiple platforms, while PeakSound combines music and video distribution under one annual fee, though there are extra costs for platforms like Apple Music or Vevo.
To get a more detailed breakdown, I recommend checking out this video by @WestheTechProductions: ua-cam.com/video/TtPhGzIPQm0/v-deo.html
He covers a comparison of the top music video distribution services that might help you decide what’s best for your needs!
Let me know if you have any more questions, and I might dive deeper into this topic in a future video!
Thank you that was very helpful
Awesome. Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for tuning in 📺
please can you show a video of how the promotion and the advertising works
I’ve created a couple of videos that delve into my music promotion process. The first one, ‘Hypeddit Music Ad Automation | AI Facebook Ads for Music,’ gives an inside look at setting up AI-powered ad campaigns, which can be super effective. The second, ‘How to Release a Single on Spotify in 2023 (Step-by-Step),’ walks you through a detailed 21-day plan for promoting new music releases. Both are available on my channel, so feel free to dive in, and I hope they help you with your promotion and advertising efforts!
Very informative and thanks for sharing! 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
where is the discount code ?
👉 Click here to get started: hubs.li/Q01RSFwzO 👈 the link is also in the video description. Thanks for stopping by the channel 😊
@@anvyloriginals Thanks for letting me know the site is not working as it should for the audience. I’ve reached out this morning to my marketing coordinator at Symphonic to rectify. I will update here. Again, no intent to false advertise. The techs there engineered the link for tracking and we may need to add an input for you all to place in the “add discount code” here box to update. I will announce when I hear back from them (hopefully, today). Thanks again.
Discount code is GD25OFF
my songs will always be available when my 1 year subscription expires?
I need to know this before I subscribe!
plus, I would also be interested in the yt content id, whether it is approved for royalty-free vocal
Please Answer me
Do you mean do they have a sort of "Leave a Legacy" functionality like DistroKid? If so then, based on the information provided in the Symphonic Starter FAQ, if you cancel your account, you will have access to it until the term of one year expires, at which point your content will be taken down. This suggests that Symphonic does not offer a feature similar to DistroKid's
"Leave a Legacy" feature. If you end your subscription with Symphonic, your music will be removed from the platforms they distribute to after your subscription term ends.
However, it's important to note that takedowns of the content across each of Symphonic Distribution's partner platforms may take up to 1 full year, with no guarantee that the partner will proceed and approve the takedown of the product.
This suggests that while Symphonic
Distribution will attempt to take down the content from their partner platforms, there is no guarantee that all platforms will comply with the takedown request. It's also not explicitly stated whether the music will remain on the platforms if the takedown request is not complied with.
Not legal advice or anything, but generally speaking, I surmise that if you end your subscription your content will also be removed. In which case, I would advice that if you were thinking of switching distribution services, to just do that before canceling from any service.
Then, you're good to go.
And yes, Symphonic Distribution does offer UA-cam Content ID services. For established artists and labels they also offer Custom % on UA-cam and UGC partners on their Partner Plan. Note, certain UA-cam Content ID feature are only available for their distribution clients and you have to apply for that. They have a dedicated staff that will not only monetize your videos but place fingerprints and looks for other videos that UA-cam’s fingerprinting program does not pick up. Their team will scan each and every song in your catalog to ensure that they either monetize or takedown videos uploaded by third party individuals.
Me too coz whack distributors like iMusician will not remove your music when you do not renew your subscription and this is exactly why i left distrokid and at iMusician you do not even pay any extra for that, If symphonic takes down your music then i guess i will have to say thanks but No thanks.
On the starter plan, you can't add more than one primary artist
Can we whitelist our channel or any songs on symphonic ????
Yes, you can whitelist your UA-cam channel or specific songs through Symphonic. This process is called allowlisting, and it prevents UA-cam Content ID from claiming videos on channels that you’ve approved to use your content, including your own. This is especially useful if you’re distributing music and want to prevent automated claims on your own uploads or if you’ve granted someone else permission to use your music on their channel.
To get started, you need to submit a request through Symphonic’s support system, and they will review your allowlisting request on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind that they may deny requests if they believe it could negatively impact users, and they also periodically review allowlisted channels to ensure compliance.
For more details, check out their guide here: support.symdistro.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020766411-UA-cam-Allowlisting.
Note: I typically use Song Trust for this task, but it appears Symphonic supports it as well.
Dose Symphonic still take 30% of an artists streaming royalties???
Thanks for dropping by the channel! When it comes to Symphonic Music Distribution, they have a percentage deal with the DSPs, not a fixed cut of an artist’s streaming royalties. So, the amount you as an artist take home depends on the net revenue Symphonic receives from these platforms, which can fluctuate based on various factors. For downloads, if you have a deal where you keep 80% of the revenue, you’d get $0.55 out of a $0.99 sale after iTunes takes its share. Streaming is more complex, with no set pay-per-stream rate due to different streaming models and territories.
No music distribution service has a fixed “pay-per-stream” rate, as many factors influence the royalty payments to artists from streaming platforms. These factors include the listener’s country and location, the type of account (paid or free), the specific artist’s royalty rate, and the relative pricing and currency in different regions. The estimated per-stream figures vary for each service; for example, Napster pays about $0.019 per stream, Tidal pays around $0.01284, and Spotify pays approximately $0.00437. It’s also important to remember that these rates are not guaranteed and can differ based on the variables mentioned.
In the music distribution industry, the cut taken by services like Symphonic is not out of the ordinary. The complexity of streaming royalties is an industry-wide issue, not specific to Symphonic. The key takeaway is that rates are not only inconsistent across platforms but also across different deals between distribution services and DSPs. Artists should consider both the potential earnings and the exposure they can gain from being on various streaming platforms.
For the 19.99 starter plan can I upload music under a custom label name? It just looks better. The only downfall I see with Symphonic is that the lyrics don’t sync to Instagram
Hey 👋🏾 Thanks for your comment.
Regarding your question about the custom label name, yes, you can definitely upload music under a custom label name with the $19.99 starter plan.
As for the lyrics not syncing to Instagram, Symphonic actually has a partnership with Musixmatch, which is a platform where artists can submit lyrics for their songs. Once the lyrics have gone through the Musixmatch review/approval process, those lyrics will be available on multiple platforms, including Instagram.
To get started, you'll need to claim your artist profile on Musixmatch and achieve a “Curator” status. This means that the lyrics you submit through your profile are more trusted, and the approval process will be expedited. Your lyrics will be available on the platforms after being approved by Musixmatch.
You'll also need to create a Musixmatch account to tie your Artist Profile to. It's similar to how you need to have a Spotify account before claiming a Spotify for Artist account.
I hope this helps! Thanks for tuning in to the channel 😊
how is the promotion on this app
Don’t get the symphonic starter, get the full version! You get so much more!
how much does that cost? also do you know if you can put motion art on the starter?
@@icarus9980 distro definitely screws you compared to symphonic
Great question! For costs, I haven’t looked into the specifics for Symphonic Distribution’s Starter Plan concerning motion art, so I wouldn’t want to speculate. Typically, advanced features like motion art might not be included in starter tiers, but it’s always best to check directly with Symphonic to confirm (or maybe they will chime in 😊).
As for motion art, it’s commonly used for albums or EPs, though some distributors at onset, like Apple Music, did not allow motion art for singles (based on some sources like Absolute Label Services). However, most of that has changed now as motion artwork has become more common. So, there is now more flexibility with this (you can check Fine Guerre’s take on this at fineguerre.com/blog/animated-cover-art-apple-music/).
When it comes to payouts, services like Symphonic typically collect royalties from various streaming platforms and allow you to withdraw once you hit a minimum threshold. The actual amount varies by service, so it’s worth checking with your distributor for specifics.
If you’re serious about leveraging these features, you might want to explore Apple’s Preferred Plus Partners for more advanced options. Here’s a list of partners and their capabilities (You can see which DSPs support motion art, etc.): itunespartner.apple.com/music/partners.
Hope this helps!
Symphonic is better.
It's a great platform for sure.