How to Pick a Music Distributor Without Getting Trapped

Logosofia no Dia a Dia · Apr 26, 2026 · 25m

Why can't independent musicians upload songs directly to Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music? The answer involves metadata nightmares, label gatekeeping, and a failed 2018 beta program. This episode breaks down the structural reasons middlemen like DistroKid and CD Baby exist, why Spotify gives podcasters free hosting but not musicians, and the hidden trap in most distribution deals: cancel your subscription and your entire catalog vanishes. We compare subscription models vs. one-time fee models, explain how ISRC codes let you switch distributors safely, and reveal why "free" tiers often…