Indie artists, this is the Music Distro deep dive that protects your money and your rights. We start by killing the “upload direct to Spotify” myth and map how distributors/aggregators actually work—metadata accuracy, playlist chances, splits, and payouts. Then we go surgical on ISRC (per track/version/video) and UPC (per single/EP/album), because these codes are the plumbing between your music, charts, and cash flow.
Next, we separate the three royalty pipes:
- Distributor → streaming/store payouts for the recording (master)
- PRO + MLC → songwriting/composition royalties
- SoundExchange / PPCA / PPL → recording performance in broadcast-style uses
We close with traps to avoid: assuming distribution = publishing admin, metadata typos that break discovery, relying on outdated comparison posts, and inorganic streaming that can get you banned or clawed back.
Grab the Release-Ready Checklist in the show notes to repeat this process for every drop—so no stream, spin, or broadcast goes unclaimed.
Read the companion guide: Music Distro: The Most Helpful Guide to Choosing (and Using) a Music Distribution Company in 2026 — https://beatstorapon.com/blog/ultimate-music-distribution-guide-2026/
Chapters / Timestamps (from transcript)
- 00:00 Intro — why Music Distro matters (business side of getting heard)
- 02:15 You need a distributor/aggregator (how it works, payouts, metadata)
- 04:50 ISRC rules (per version/video; don’t reuse)
- 09:50 UPC for releases (single/EP/album; charting & sales tracking)
- 12:10 The “other money”: PRO/MLC (song) vs SoundExchange/PPCA/PPL (recording performance)
- 14:40 Pitfalls: publishing ≠ distribution, metadata errors, inorganic streams/clawbacks
- 16:00 Checklist recap — connect the pipes, don’t miss a cent
If you’re still comparing options, see the best platforms to distribute music for free https://beatstorapon.com/blog/the-best-platforms-to-distribute-music-for-free-and-reach-your-fans/
ISRC (per track/version/video) and UPC (per single/EP/album). These aren’t admin—they’re the plumbing between your music, charts, and cash flow. For a deeper explainer (including ISWC/DDEX), read Music metadata: ISRC / ISWC / UPC / DDEX https://beatstorapon.com/blog/music-metadata-isrc-iswc-upc-ddex/
Contracts, rights, and revenue streams—start with the business blueprint for contracts, royalties & revenue https://beatstorapon.com/blog/mastering-the-business-of-hip-hop-your-2025-blueprint-for-contracts-royalties-revenue-streams/ and copyright & contracts essentials for artists https://beatstorapon.com/blog/copyright-contracts-essentials-for-rap-artists-2025-the-ultimate-guide/
We’re building the future—empowering every artist and creator with the tools, beats, and network to share their voice, connect boldly, and leave a mark on the world. 🔗 Visit us at https://beatstorapon.com.
Keep creating. Keep sharing. Keep rising.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.