TikTok and DistroKid Partnership Expands Music Distribution Reach
Millions of Independent Artists Gain Access to TikTok Music and CapCut
In a significant move, TikTok has partnered with music distribution service DistroKid to expand the reach of independent artists on its recently launched subscription-based music streaming service, TikTok Music. This deal also allows musicians to make their songs accessible on ByteDance-owned video editing app CapCut, which boasts an impressive 490 million iOS and Android users.
Having a presence on TikTok Music and CapCut is crucial for independent artists who rely on popular platforms to build an audience. Although TikTok Music is currently available in only five countries, its potential for popularity cannot be overstated, considering TikTok’s massive user base of billions.
DistroKid’s music inventory has joined the catalogs of major record companies already on TikTok Music, such as Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music. This development is a significant step forward in democratizing access to music distribution for independent artists.
Philip Kaplan, DistroKid founder and CEO
"TikTok is one of the most powerful music discovery platforms in the world," Philip Kaplan said in a statement. "The expansion of this partnership to include CapCut and the Commercial Music Library makes it super easy for millions of musicians to make their music available in even more places, while TikTok’s new music streaming service provides further reach as it becomes available in more countries."
Background on DistroKid and TikTok Partnership
DistroKid initially teamed up with TikTok in 2019, becoming one of the first distributors to help emerging artists get their music uploaded to TikTok. DistroKid users receive royalties every time their songs are included in TikTok videos, according to the company’s support page. Members are paid through DistroKid, not TikTok.
According to estimates online, TikTok pays artists three cents per video. DistroKid gives 100% of the earnings (aside from banking fees and taxes) to the artist. Unfortunately, the company declined to share the total amount of revenue that members who opted into distribution to TikTok have earned.
DistroKid’s Services and Expansion
DistroKid helps musicians sell their songs on various platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, YouTube, Pandora, Amazon, and iHeartRadio, among others. The company also enables users to customize metadata and store their music assets.
In addition to the partnership with TikTok, DistroKid’s catalog is available on TikTok’s Commercial Music Library (CML) for brands to use in ad campaigns. This feature was previously in beta but has now been made fully accessible to all DistroKid artists, as revealed by a DistroKid spokesperson.
"We expect large numbers of artists to take advantage of the CML from this point forward," the spokesperson said.
Impact and Opportunities
With over two million artists using DistroKid for its music distribution, monetization, promotion, metadata customization, and storage services, the expansion of the partnership between TikTok and DistroKid is set to have a significant impact on the music industry.
The acquisition of website builder Bandzoogle by DistroKid has given users new e-commerce features to help them sell their albums. This move underscores the company’s commitment to providing independent artists with the tools they need to succeed in the ever-evolving music landscape.
TikTok’s Growing Presence in Music
This partnership comes on the heels of TikTok partnering with Tickets.com to help sell tickets for its first live music event called "In The Mix." This move marks a significant step forward for TikTok, which is expanding its presence in the music industry beyond just video creation and sharing.
Conclusion
The partnership between TikTok and DistroKid is a game-changer for independent artists who can now access the vast user base of TikTok Music and CapCut. As the music streaming landscape continues to evolve, this deal will undoubtedly open up new opportunities for musicians to build their audience, sell their music, and reach a broader global market.
With its massive user base and innovative features, TikTok is poised to become one of the leading music discovery platforms worldwide. This partnership with DistroKid is just another step in cementing TikTok’s position as a major player in the music industry.
