As a music distribution platform, DistroKid allows artists to easily upload their music to major streaming services and digital stores like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TikTok and more. However, DistroKid does not directly monetize or generate revenue from an artist’s music on Facebook. Here’s a quick overview of how DistroKid works and its relationship to Facebook monetization:
What is DistroKid?
DistroKid is a music distribution service that acts as an intermediary between artists and digital music platforms. Artists can use DistroKid to upload their music to major streaming services all at once, rather than uploading to each platform individually. Some key things to know about DistroKid:
- Artists pay an annual flat fee to use DistroKid’s distribution services. There are no revenue shares taken from the artist’s royalties.
- Once music is uploaded, DistroKid delivers it to over 150 major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Tidal and more.
- As the distributor, DistroKid collects royalties earned from streams/downloads and pays the artist directly.
- DistroKid does not own any rights to the music. The artist retains full ownership and creative control.
In summary, DistroKid handles the distribution and paperwork for artists to get their music onto the major digital platforms. The artist retains ownership and earns all streaming royalties directly.
Does DistroKid Monetize Facebook?
No, DistroKid does not directly monetize an artist’s music on Facebook. Here’s how it works:
- Artists can opt to have DistroKid deliver their music to Facebook. This allows songs/albums to appear on the artist’s Facebook Page and Profile for fans to stream.
- Fans can listen to the music for free on Facebook, and the artist can earn royalties when their songs are streamed.
- The royalties earned on Facebook are paid out directly to the artist, not to DistroKid.
- DistroKid charges the artist an annual fee but does not take a percentage or share of royalties earned from Facebook streams.
So in summary, while DistroKid delivers music to Facebook and enables free streaming, the artist retains ownership and earns the royalty payouts directly. DistroKid facilitates distribution but does not directly monetize Facebook streams itself.
How Artists Monetize Music on Facebook
There are a few ways artists can earn money from their music being streamed on Facebook:
- Royalties – Artists earn standard royalty rates when their songs are streamed on Facebook. Rates may vary based on the artist’s label and distribution deals.
- Advertising Revenue Share – If an artist runs ads on their Facebook videos/posts that include their music, they can earn a 55% revenue share from the ads.
- Tip Jar – Eligible creators and artists can activate Facebook’s Tip Jar feature to collect monetary tips from fans.
- Paid Online Events – Artists can host paid virtual concerts, album listening parties, or other events through Facebook and monetize them.
- Selling Merchandise – Artists can sell merchandise like t-shirts, albums, etc. through their Facebook Page store.
So while DistroKid is not directly monetizing music on Facebook, artists have options to generate revenue streams through royalties, advertising, tips, virtual events, merchandising and more.
Comparing DistroKid and Other Music Distributors
It’s helpful to understand how DistroKid compares to other music distribution options when it comes to monetizing on Facebook:
| Distributor | Royalty Share? | Monetizes Facebook Directly? |
|---|---|---|
| DistroKid | No | No |
| CD Baby | Yes | No |
| Tunecore | Yes | No |
| AWAL | Yes | No |
| Amuse | No | No |
Key takeaways:
- DistroKid and Amuse allow artists to keep 100% of royalties.
- CD Baby, Tunecore, AWAL take a percentage of royalties as their fee.
- No distributor directly monetizes an artist’s Facebook presence.
- Artists retain ownership and creative control no matter the distributor.
So DistroKid has a very artist-friendly business model compared to other options. But the artist must drive their own monetization strategy on Facebook.
Tips for Monetizing Music on Facebook
Here are some tips artists can follow to maximize earnings from their music on Facebook:
Optimize Your Facebook Presence
Make sure your Facebook Page is completely filled out with links, photos, bio info, and calls-to-action to stream your music. This helps new fans fully engage.
Run Targeted Ads
Use Facebook advertising tools to promote your music to listeners likely to become fans. Target by location, interests, and other demographics.
Go Live Frequently
Streaming live performances on Facebook, Q&As, and behind-the-scenes footage is a great way to boost engagement and interest.
Offer Exclusive Content
Entice fans to follow your Facebook Page by offering exclusive music, videos, contests, discounts, and content just for subscribers.
Collaborate with Other Artists
Team up on Facebook Live cross-promotions, cross-posts, and collaborations with other artists to tap into each other’s fanbases.
Drive Traffic to Streaming Platforms
Use your Facebook presence to steer more listeners to fully monetized platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube etc.
The Bottom Line
In summary, while DistroKid delivers an artist’s music to Facebook, the artist themselves drives any direct monetization through royalties, advertising, events, and more. DistroKid focuses solely on simplified distribution, enabling artists to tap into Facebook’s expansive audience. With the right promotion and monetization strategy, artists can turn their Facebook presence into a revenue stream.