Bypass: Music Industry News for Independent Artists

Friday edition - 2 min read

DistroKid's Looking for New Owners

What’s Up

DistroKid might get sold. Like, sold sold. The distributor behind 30-40% of all new releases is looking for buyers, and they want $2 billion. Yes, billion with a “B”.

So What

A general rule of thumb: a new boss means new rules. And usually, things get worse for artists—because of course they do. One minute, you’re paying $25/year for Distro’s Musician tier, and the next, you’re shelling out $50.

No one likes acquisitions, especially when major labels are involved. Just look at what happened when UMG tried to buy Downtown Music. Indies fought back because they knew it was bad news.

Now What

It’s like the world is making it hard to commit these days. Start looking for other alternatives just in case things do get worse. But first, back up any important data you have (think metadata, sales reports, streaming data). Don’t panic; just prepare.

[Read more on Music Ally]

It's Bandcamp Friday

What’s Up

It’s Friday, but it’s not just any Friday. It’s Bandcamp Friday! You know the deal: you keep 100% of your sales (minus payment processing fees). Music, merch, vinyl, and bundles. All of it.

So What

Days like this remind you about what it’s really like to sell music online. Bandcamp normally takes 10-15% revenue share. Today, you keep everything except payment processing (~3-5%). Bet you wished streaming paid like this.

Now What

Promote everywhere TODAY. Email your list. Post everywhere, and say the magic words: “Bandcamp Friday”. If you’ve got any new music, now’s your chance. Run bundle deals, flash sales or exclusive drops. Today’s your day. Make the most of it.

[Full story at Hypebot]

Vocana: Indie-Only Streaming Platform

What's Up

There’s a new kid on the block. Vocana calls itself the “first independent-only music platform”. Huge claim. They just opened early access to all Symphonic Distribution artists. It’s in beta, a bit low-key, but very indie.

So What

Vocana uses a user-centric payout model, which means artists get paid directly from listeners through subscriptions. It completely throws the streaming pool BS out the window. Add in community-driven discovery, and we've got a real contender on our hands.

Now What

If you’re with Symphonic, log in and claim your spot. Set up a profile and figure out how it works. For anyone who’s not a part of Symphonic, we’ll update you when they start letting in more indies, so keep an eye out. This feels like one of those “remember when it was small?” moments.

[Full story at Hypebot]