How to Switch Digital Music Distributors
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Your distributor raised their prices. Or their support is nonexistent. Or you've been paying annual fees for five years on a catalog that earns $30 a month, and a one-time-fee distributor would've saved you hundreds.
Whatever the reason, you want to switch — but the thought of losing streams, playlist placements, and algorithmic history makes you hesitate. Here's the thing: switching distributors doesn't have to cost you anything, if you do it correctly. The entire process hinges on one technical detail.
The One Thing That Matters: Your ISRC Codes
Streaming platforms don't track songs by their audio file, title, or artist name. They track them by ISRC codes — International Standard Recording Codes. Every recording has a 12-character identifier (like US-ABC-24-12345) that acts as its fingerprint across every platform.
Upload a track through your new distributor with the exact same ISRC and Spotify, Apple Music, and every other platform recognize it as the same recording. Streams carry over. Playlists stay. Algorithmic history remains attached.
Upload with a different ISRC (or let your new distributor auto-generate one) and the platform treats it as a brand-new song. Zero streams. No history. Starting from scratch.
This is why the very first step — before you even pick a new distributor — is exporting every ISRC code in your catalog.
Step 1: Export Your Catalog Data
Create a complete record of every release before you touch anything. For each release, document:
- ISRC code for every track
- UPC code for the release
- Exact song title (including capitalization, punctuation, featured artist formatting)
- Artist name (exactly as it appears on streaming platforms)
- Original release date
- Cover artwork file and audio master files
Where to find your ISRCs: Most distributors display them in the release details — DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby all show them in their dashboards. If you can't find them, use ISRC Finder or Soundcharts ISRC Lookup to look them up via Spotify.
Save everything in a spreadsheet. A single typo in your artist name or a mismatched release date can cause platforms to treat your upload as a new release.
Step 2: Choose Your New Distributor
| Distributor | Pricing Model | Royalty Split | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | ~$24.99/year, unlimited releases | 100% to artist | High-volume releasers (4+ singles/year) |
| TuneCore | ~$14.99/year subscription | 100% to artist | Detailed analytics and publishing admin |
| CD Baby | One-time fee ($9.99/single, $14.99/album) | 91% to artist | Catalog longevity — no recurring fees |
| LANDR | Subscription tiers | 100% to artist | Artists already using LANDR for mastering |
| Ditto Music | Annual subscription | 100% to artist | International reach, label services |
| AWAL | No upfront fee | 85% to artist | Playlist pitching and label-adjacent services |
| Symphonic | Varies | Revenue share | Hands-on support and sync opportunities |
Step 3: Upload to Your New Distributor
This is where precision matters.
Use the exact same ISRC codes. Every distributor has a field for entering existing ISRCs. On DistroKid, click "already got an ISRC code?" on the upload form. TuneCore and CD Baby have dedicated ISRC fields.
Use the same UPC code if your new distributor allows it. If they require a new UPC, that's okay — the ISRC is what preserves your streaming data.
Match every piece of metadata exactly: song title (same capitalization, "feat." vs "ft."), artist name, cover artwork, audio file, and — critically — use the original release date, not today's date. Most distributors have a "previously released" option.
Do not request takedown from your old distributor yet. Your old version must remain live while the new one processes. This overlap prevents any gap where your music is unavailable.
Step 4: Wait for the Overlap
Your new version typically takes 1–7 business days to go live across platforms. During this window, you'll have temporary duplicates — your song may appear twice on your artist profile. This is normal.
Once your new version is live, verify:
- Stream counts match (they should be identical if ISRCs matched)
- The track appears under the correct artist profile
- Playlist placements are intact (check Spotify for Artists)
- Release date shows the original date
Step 5: Request Takedown from Your Old Distributor
Once verified, request takedown of the old versions. DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby all offer takedown options in their dashboards. The old version will be removed over 1–7 business days and the duplicate listing will resolve itself.
Take care of outstanding royalty payments before closing your account — make sure your balance is paid out or transferred.
What Can Go Wrong
Streams reset to zero: ISRC mismatch — either a new ISRC or a typo. Contact your new distributor immediately; some can update ISRCs on live releases. Prevention: copy-paste ISRCs from your spreadsheet, never type manually.
Duplicate listings won't resolve: Metadata mismatch between old and new versions, usually a slight difference in title, artist name, or release date. Verify every field matches exactly.
Lost playlist placements: Can happen even with matching ISRCs, especially with editorial playlists where curators reference distributor delivery IDs. For user-curated playlists, contact the curator to re-add. For algorithmic playlists, engagement metrics should help the algorithm re-discover the track. Avoid switching during active promo campaigns.
Royalty payment gaps: A small amount of revenue from the transition window may be missed. Review royalty statements from both distributors for the transition month.
FAQ
Will I lose my Spotify for Artists verification? No. Your Spotify for Artists account is tied to your artist profile, not your distributor. Verification, Canvas videos, and profile customization are unaffected.
What if my distributor won't give me my ISRC codes? All reputable distributors display them in their dashboard. As a last resort, look up your tracks on ISRC Finder by searching Spotify.
How long should I keep music on both distributors? Until your new version is confirmed live — typically 3–7 days. For safety, many artists wait 2–4 weeks before requesting takedown, and full sync can take up to 6 weeks.
Should I switch during a release campaign? No. Switch during a quiet period with no active promotions, pending playlist pitches, or upcoming releases.