More Apple Music features offered to artists through three 'preferred' distributors

I don't get it.  What's a music distributor?  This is to get tracks into the Apple Music ecosystem?

randominternetperson said:

I don't get it.  What's a music distributor?  This is to get tracks into the Apple Music ecosystem?

This story makes too many assumptions of the target audience here. Much more detail is needed, but it does appear to be a story that would only be of interest to 3 companies... and those companies are already part of this very narrow Apple program.

Yes, a music distributor a company that takes recordings made by artists and makes them available through the top e-music outlets, including Amazon, Apple, Google Play, and so forth. Similar to book publishers or aggregators, these companies ensure that the files are rated properly (mature or not), files (including accompanying art or liner notes) fit the technical standards of the store (which vary), and often handle other aspects like reporting sales to publishing companies, paying the different entities that get a royalty, and generally handling the business aspect of selling music (or e-books, to continue the publisher metaphor).

Why this story is important to more than just the companies that achieve the top tier is that it lets artists know who is likely to get the most detailed reports and accounting on their music, which may influence who they go with for this service; it also signals that these companies are incentivized to be honest in their dealings, since they don’t want to lose their preferred status. It’s also important to know that services like CD Baby (et al) can assist in letting artists take more direct control of their digital music offerings, bypassing traditional record companies (which is likely to be the next big shift in the music business). This story being published here and elsewhere will also help get the word out to other vendors, who can then strive to become a Preferred or Preferred Plus partner over time. Yes, it’s a bit “inside baseball” to people who just buy music, but it’s certainly newsworthy to anyone involved even peripherally with the music business — which I should think a lot of AI’s creative professional readership would be.

chasm said:

Yes, a music distributor a company that takes recordings made by artists and makes them available through the top e-music outlets, including Amazon, Apple, Google Play, and so forth. Similar to book publishers or aggregators, these companies ensure that the files are rated properly (mature or not), files (including accompanying art or liner notes) fit the technical standards of the store (which vary), and often handle other aspects like reporting sales to publishing companies, paying the different entities that get a royalty, and generally handling the business aspect of selling music (or e-books, to continue the publisher metaphor).

Why this story is important to more than just the companies that achieve the top tier is that it lets artists know who is likely to get the most detailed reports and accounting on their music, which may influence who they go with for this service; it also signals that these companies are incentivized to be honest in their dealings, since they don’t want to lose their preferred status. It’s also important to know that services like CD Baby (et al) can assist in letting artists take more direct control of their digital music offerings, bypassing traditional record companies (which is likely to be the next big shift in the music business). This story being published here and elsewhere will also help get the word out to other vendors, who can then strive to become a Preferred or Preferred Plus partner over time. Yes, it’s a bit “inside baseball” to people who just buy music, but it’s certainly newsworthy to anyone involved even peripherally with the music business — which I should think a lot of AI’s creative professional readership would be.

Ideally, an artist or band would incorporate, form their own label and then publish directly through an artist's portal in iTunes. After all, the vast majority of musicians make nothing on music sales. It's touring, licensing music and selling merchandise that usually makes them money. The music itself serves the same purpose as advertising for the band/artist.

chasm said:

Yes, a music distributor a company that takes recordings made by artists and makes them available through the top e-music outlets, including Amazon, Apple, Google Play, and so forth. Similar to book publishers or aggregators, these companies ensure that the files are rated properly (mature or not), files (including accompanying art or liner notes) fit the technical standards of the store (which vary), and often handle other aspects like reporting sales to publishing companies, paying the different entities that get a royalty, and generally handling the business aspect of selling music (or e-books, to continue the publisher metaphor).

Why this story is important to more than just the companies that achieve the top tier is that it lets artists know who is likely to get the most detailed reports and accounting on their music, which may influence who they go with for this service; it also signals that these companies are incentivized to be honest in their dealings, since they don’t want to lose their preferred status. It’s also important to know that services like CD Baby (et al) can assist in letting artists take more direct control of their digital music offerings, bypassing traditional record companies (which is likely to be the next big shift in the music business). This story being published here and elsewhere will also help get the word out to other vendors, who can then strive to become a Preferred or Preferred Plus partner over time. Yes, it’s a bit “inside baseball” to people who just buy music, but it’s certainly newsworthy to anyone involved even peripherally with the music business — which I should think a lot of AI’s creative professional readership would be.

Thanks for this.