In this new industry digital distribution plays a key part in an artists’ ability to market themselves and there are now many different options for independent artists seeking online distribution.  The largest online retailer is obviously iTunes but a complete digital distribution deal should include the other 100+ online music outlets.  Many distributors will also collect publishing on your behalf for streaming, ringtones and more.  With an effective online strategy combined with digital distribution, it is now more than ever a level playing field in the music industry; with your release just as effectively distributed as the biggest international artists. This also means your music will be accessible to consumers from every country around the world, something that was literally impossible just 10 years ago for the average independent artist.

Options for digital distribution are endless but I have listed a few key players below.  We use the largest distributor of independent music, The Orchard, to distribute our projects, but they have a very stringent application process before they accept new labels. The sites below all have different splits and agreements so be sure to explore your options.

Also be sure to check out this post on cnet.com about TuneCore vs. CDBaby to determine which might be a better solution for you!

In my opinion the best distributor hands down is The Orchard, but they are for more serious labels. For the average artist the most popular choice is usually CD Baby with higher selling artists going for TuneCore.  TuneCore is one of the only services that lets you keep 100% of your profits from sales…

Please share your comments or experiences with these distributors.