Tips to releasing your music online
A simple guide to digital music distributors (aggregators)
Have a new track ready to share with the world? Great news. Before your music appears on Spotify, Apple Music or TikTok, there are a few important steps to understand.
If you’re an independent or self-releasing artist, you’re likely looking for a digital music distributor, also known as a digital aggregator, to release your music online so that you can make money from it.
What is a digital music distributor (aggregator)?
A digital aggregator is an online service that uploads your music to streaming platforms and digital stores around the world on your behalf.
Most streaming platforms — known as Digital Service Providers (DSPs) — don’t accept music directly from individual artists. This is why independent artists and musicians use aggregators to get their music released digitally.
If you’re signed to a record label, your label usually handles this step for you. If you’re independently releasing your music, the aggregator is your “middleperson”.
What does an aggregator actually do?
A digital aggregator:
- Delivers your music to DSPs like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Amazon Music
- Collects the sound recording income (income from the recording) from the streams (or downloads) on those services or platforms and pays it to you
- Supplies reporting and insights so you can see where and how your music is being consumed
- Often delivers your music to social and UGC (User Generated Content) platforms like TikTok, Meta (Facebook, Instagram, Threads, WhatsApp) and YouTube. .
Most aggregators make money by:
- charging an upfront fee
- taking a percentage of the revenue you make from your sound recording
- charging an annual fee to keep your music online.
Some aggregators also offer optional paid extras like playlist pitching, publicity, synch licensing or social media support.
How do royalties work with aggregators and APRA AMCOS?
This part is important.
Your aggregator pays you directly for streams and downloads of your sound recording (the recording itself).
However, each stream or download generates royalties from the communication (APRA) and a reproduction royalty (AMCOS) for the underlying song (the musical work). These royalties are not paid by the aggregator.
Instead:
- DSPs pay these fees directly to rights organisations like APRA AMCOS
- These are then paid to songwriters, composers, music publishers and international affiliates as royalties
APRA AMCOS does not provide licences to music aggregators. Instead, we collect fees from digital service providers (DSPs) that are licensed to operate in Australia and New Zealand. These are then distributed to songwriters, composers, music publishers, and international affiliates as royalties.
You can learn more in APRA AMCOS’s explainer video: What is a Digital Aggregator?
How do you choose the right aggregator?
There’s no single “best” distributor. The right one depends on where you’re at in your career and what you need right now.
Some local aggregators include:
- G.Y.R.O. (Brisbane)
- MGM – Metropolitan Groove Merchants (Sydney)
- Musible (Perth)
- Xelon Digital (Melbourne)
- Community Music (Melbourne)
You can also check:
- Apple Music’s recommended aggregator list
- Spotify’s recommended aggregator list
- AIR’s list of Australian distributors: air.org.au/membership/members-list/australian-distributors
What should you look for in an aggregator?
Before signing up, check:
Fees and contract terms
- Is there an upfront or annual fee?
- How long is the contract?
- Are there penalties for leaving early?
Payments and reporting
- How often do they pay you?
- Do they provide clear streaming and revenue reports?
Rights
- Be cautious if an aggregator asks you to waive performance or communication rights
- Understand the difference between your sound recording rights and your songwriting (reproduction) rights
If you release cover songs, especially in the US, your aggregator may pay digital mechanicals to you — meaning you could be responsible for paying the original songwriter. APRA AMCOS Writer Services can help with questions about this.
Platforms
- Does the service deliver to the platforms you care about?
- For example, electronic artists should check if the aggregator services Beatport
UGC and social platforms
- Can they deliver to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube so your music can be monetised there?
Extras
- Playlist pitching, publicity, sync or publishing services are optional — always read the fine print.
What do you need before you upload?
Most aggregators will ask for:
- Final audio files (usually WAV)
- Artwork that meets digital store specs
- Metadata (artist name, track title, contributors, durations)
Get your ISRC!
If you don’t already have an ISRC for your track, make sure the aggregator you choose can attach an ISRC to your track
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code):
- Identifies a specific recording
- Each version of a track can have a different ISRC
- Can be supplied by your aggregator
- Helps performances and streams be tracked and paid accurately
Adding ISRCs when registering your songs with APRA AMCOS helps royalties be paid faster and more accurately.
A simple 6 week single release timeline
6 weeks out
- Finalise your audio and upload to your aggregator so they can pitch or highlight your music to DSPs
- Lock in your artwork (check digital packshot specs)
4–5 weeks out
- Plan your social content
- Are you touring? Releases tied to shows are more likely to get press
2–3 weeks out
- Build your story: photos, behind-the-scenes video, quotes, visuals
- Prep Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists
Release week
- Service music to community radio
- Run a small paid social campaign if you can
- Keep posting and engaging
Final tips
- Always register your songs with APRA AMCOS
- Set up Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists; use the tools your aggregator might provide so you can streamline your photo, bio and links across DSPs
- Make sure your distributor can deliver to social platforms
- Read the terms and conditions — and get legal advice if needed
(Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Australian Copyright Council are great resources)
Frequently asked questions
Does AMCOS collect royalties from digital aggregators?
No. AMCOS does not have any current licensing agreements in place with aggregators. The role of an aggregator is to act as the “middleman” to help you distribute your music globally through digital service providers (DSPs), such as Spotify or Apple Music. The aggregator pays the account-holder directly for any sales or streams. Separately, each sale or stream generates a mechanical royalty. These mechanical royalties are withheld by the DSP. Mechanical rights organisations, like AMCOS, hold licence agreements with DSPs, and collect mechanical royalties directly from them. Royalties are then on-paid to the writers.
Read our Tips for releasing your music online.
Can I earn royalties from digital downloads and streamed music?
Yes. Remember to register your works.
Digital royalties are paid out in our quarterly distributions. Writer members do not need to do any reporting, just register your works! However, adding ISRCs to your work registrations does assist us greatly.
We have licence agreements in place with most legal digital service providers (eg: Spotify, Apple Music). Traditionally, we would expect royalties to be paid out 6 months after streaming or download in New Zealand or Australia - depending on the reporting and processing lead times. Overseas royalties do take longer, as they must first be processed by our international affiliate societies. This can take 12-24 months, depending on the territory.