2. Why Major Distribution Doesn’t Guarantee Success

For many artists, signing with a major distributor like Sony Orchard, TuneCore, or DistroKid feels like a major step forward. The idea is that by having access to a “big player,” your music will automatically reach more people, your brand will grow, and your streams will increase.

But in reality, distribution alone doesn’t equal success—and many artists who sign with these services end up spending thousands without seeing real results.

What Major Distributors Actually Do (And Don’t Do) ✅ What They Do:

• Place your music on major streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, etc.)

• Handle basic royalty collection (after taking their percentage)

• Provide backend analytics on your streams and revenue

❌ What They Don’t Do (Unless You Pay Extra)

• Actively market your music to new audiences

• Run targeted ad campaigns to grow your fanbase

• Get you on major playlists

• Help with branding, storytelling, or audience engagement

  Many artists sign deals with big expectations—only to realize that their music is available everywhere, but still not reaching the right people.

  The Harsh Truth: Distribution Without Marketing = Wasted Potential
  A major distributor doesn’t guarantee more fans, more streams, or more engagement. If you

  aren’t actively pushing your music, it just sits there. This is why:

  • Some artists with no label or distribution deal blow up organically

  • Others spend thousands on “label services” but barely see growth
    Simply having your music on Spotify doesn’t mean people will find it. That’s where real marketing comes in.

    The Alternative: Smart Distribution + Targeted Marketing
    Instead of relying solely on a distributor to “push” your music (which they won’t), the modern

    independent artist model looks like this:

✅ Step 1: Own Your Distribution

• Keep 100% of your royalties instead of giving up 20-30%

• Control where and how your music is released

• Work with flexible marketing strategies rather than relying on label services

✅ Step 2: Use Paid Marketing the Right Way

• Invest in social media ad campaigns to reach new listeners

• Use YouTube and TikTok strategies for discovery

• Build a real brand presence that makes fans want to engage

  The Big Takeaway

❌ Most artists spend too much on the wrong things

✅ The ones who grow are the ones who control their music & marketing

In the next section, we’ll break down how to structure a $500/month marketing plan that delivers real fan growth, engagement, and streams—without wasting money.