DISTRIBUTION, MONETIZATION & STREAMING FAQ
Distribution
Digital distribution is the delivery or distribution of media content, such as audio, video, software, and video games. Jamvana delivers audio at 44.1kHz/16-bit WAV and video in MOV and MP4 formats to retailers and streaming services known as DSPs (Digital Service Providers/Partner or Distribution Service Provider/Partner). These formats are the industry standard for both audio and video.
DSPs include but not limited to: iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Deezer, Tidal, Pandora, Napster, Beatport, Juno, Djshop.de. Jamvana also delivers sample packs to multiple DSPs.
If you plan to release your music online, then you need to have a distributor like Jamvana to package and send your music off to the DSPs. The distributor is necessary to ensure that your release and its information is packed and processed correctly.
Anyone who has ever distributed music online through a retailer (Spotify, Apple Music) is using a distribution service, including independent artists, record labels, and artist managers.
Once you contact us, an account manager will get you set up with an agreement. Once the agreement is signed, they will get you an account and you will follow this guide to distribute your music: http://bit.ly/MDSuploadguide
Jamvana offers multiple plans for all different kinds of users; we also offer additional add on services and sub-accounts.
When you are ready to distribute your release and have the required format for distribution.
1. AUDIO: 44khz/16 bit wav (required by DSP’s)
2. ARTWORK: 3000×3000 jpg (required by DSP’s)
3. VIDEO: .mov or .mp4 (Optional service, contact your account manager first before releasing)
DSP’s recommend and require 3 weeks (21 business days) for a release to be put into the distribution system before the actual release date. Some DSP’s work faster than others. In emergencies, Jamvana can help rush a release for delivery, however DSP’s can choose when to put it into the system if it is lesser than 3 weeks.
The ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is an international standard code that uniquely identifies sound recordings and music video recordings. An ISRC identifies a particular recording, not the work (composition and lyrical content) itself. Different recordings, edits, and remixes of the same work should each have their own ISRC. Works are identified by ISWC. Recordings re-mastered without significant audio quality changes should retain their existing ISRC, but the threshold is left to the discretion of the record company. Read more about ISRCs here.
The UPC (Universal Product Code) is a barcode symbology (i.e., a specific type of barcode) that is widely used in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries for tracking trade items in stores. UPCs can be used for digital distribution to track a certain release.
ISRC and UPC codes are required for every release on every DSP. Jamvana will provide ISRC and UPC codes to you for free.
Monetization
Monetization is the process of converting your fans and supporters into paying consumers. For example, if you upload something to YouTube, your content can earn money from people viewing your video.
Monetization will allow you to generate revenue for uploading your music or releases. When a person plays your audio/video and an ad is played or clicked on, you’ll generate revenue for your brand.
Audio/Video sites that allow monetization are SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, Twitch, and a few others.
ISRC are required for SoundCloud and YouTube so they can properly catalog and report revenue to publishers when it is required. SoundCloud only allows you to monetize if you know your ISRC.
The ISRC you were assigned in distribution for a track is the ISRC you’ll want to use when you monetize. You can find it _____.
Streaming
Streaming is generally taken to refer to cases where a user watches digital video content and/or listens to digital audio content on a computer screen and speakers (ranging from a desktop computer to a smartphone) over the Internet. With streaming content, the user does not have to download the entire digital video or digital audio file before they start to watch/listen to it.
Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Napster, Tidal, Deezer, and Google Play are all considered music streaming services.
Streaming is the largest revenue generator for artists and labels. Digital downloads have been declining while streaming continues to rise. We highly recommend distributing your releases to streaming platforms.
Many streaming platforms utilize playlists. Playlists are a compilation of the user’s favorite tracks. This is a great way to show your friends and fans where you’re getting your inspiration from.
Publishing
Music publisher (or publishing company) is responsible for ensuring the artist or songwriters and composers receive payment when their compositions are used commercially. Through an agreement called a publishing contract, a songwriter or composer “assigns” the copyright of their composition to a publishing company. In return, the company licenses compositions, helps monitor where compositions are used, collects royalties and distributes them to the composers. They also secure commissions for music and promote existing compositions to recording artists, film, and television. The copyrights owned and administered by publishing companies are one of the most important forms of intellectual property in the music industry. (The other is the copyright on a master recording which is typically owned by a record company.) Publishing companies play a central role in managing this vital asset.
There are four (4) different types of royalties, each derived from a separate and distinct copyright. The four potential sources of royalty revenue in the music recording and publishing industry are:
Mechanical royalties: paid from record companies for record sold based on the exclusive to reproduce and distribute copyrighted works.
Public performance royalties: paid by music users for songs in the operation of their businesses and broadcasts based on the exclusive right to perform publicly copyrighted works.
Synchronization fees: paid by music users for synchronizing music with their visual images based on the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute copyrighted works and to prepare derivative works of copyrighted material.
Print music income: paid by music printers for sheet music and folios based on the exclusive right to distribute copies of copyrighted material.
You must sign up with a publishing company to collect your publishing royalties for you. Each country has different agencies.
In the United States, there is ASCAP, BMI, & SESAC. We recommend signing up with one of these agencies and also signing up with Harry Fox Agency or Music Reports for synch licensing and publishing.
Copyright
Copyright is a form of intellectual property, applicable to certain forms of creative work. Some, but not all jurisdictions require “fixing” copyrighted works in a tangible form. It is often shared among multiple authors, each of whom holds a set of rights to use or license the work, and who are commonly referred to as rightsholders. These rights frequently include reproduction, control over derivative works, distribution, public performance, and “moral rights,” such as attribution.
Following copyright laws in your country and guidelines for releasing music on DSPs and websites is extremely important. If you infringe upon copyright your music can be removed or copyright striked. In some cases you can also get fined or sued. Your music should be 100% royalty-free and original. This includes your artwork and videos.
YES. For every single release you promote, even if it’s free, you MUST secure a signed agreement. This IS required. If you do not have an agreement signed to release, do not release it.
Fair use is a US legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders. It is similar to the fair dealing doctrines used in some countries outside the United States. Generally when releasing music, this does NOT apply unless the music has been marked creative commons or was released before copyright existed.
A Creative Commons (CC) license is one of several public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work. A CC license is used when an author wants to give people the right to share, use, and build upon a work that they have created. CC provides an author flexibility (for example, they might choose to allow only non-commercial uses of their own work) and protects the people who use or redistribute an author’s work from concerns of copyright infringement as long as they abide by the conditions that are specified in the license by which the author distributes the work.
CC licensed music is available through several outlets such as
SoundCloud, and is available for use in video and music remixing.
We recommend checking out https://creativecommons.org/ for more information.
A cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a previously recorded, commercially released song by someone other than the original artist or composer. A cover version can also refer to a re-recording of a song by the original artist or performers under a different record company.
Payments
DSPs sell your music and collect royalties from it. They take a percentage and then report the sales to Jamvana. We then process it through our accounting and send you our payments.
This is the general schedule for payments from DSPs if there is no delay. DSPs deliver 4 times a year (once per quarter).
Quarter Schedule: Q1-Jan-Mar / Q2-Apr-Jun / Q3-Jul-Sept / Q4-Oct-Dec
Payment Dates (Estimated): Q1: May 10-20 / Q2: August 10-20 / Q3: November 10-20 / Q4: February 1-7
You generate revenue from ads, sites that use monetization then report your royalties to publishers (if required) and send us the reports. They then go to our account department to be processed and sent to you. Monetization for audio/video is usually two months behind the current month. For example, you’ll receive your August reports in October.
For convenience due to delays on many monetization sites, Jamvana uses the same quarterly schedule as distribution.For convenience due to delays on many monetization sites, Jamvana uses the same quarterly schedule as distribution.
Quarter Schedule: Q1-Jan-Mar / Q2-Apr-Jun / Q3-Jul-Sept / Q4-Oct-Dec
Payment Dates (Estimated): Q1: May 10-20 / Q2: August 10-20 / Q3: November 10-20 / Q4: February 1-7
Streaming uses ads to generate revenue for you. They use the same quarterly schedule as a regular retailer
You will receive reports four times per year.
Quarter Schedule: Q1-Jan-Mar / Q2-Apr-Jun / Q3-Jul-Sept / Q4-Oct-Dec
Payment Dates (Estimated): Q1: May 10-20 / Q2: August 10-20 / Q3: November 10-20 / Q4: February 1-7
DSPs must process and account for sales. With such large catalogs (usually in the millions) it can often take long. They must also pay publishers. Then a distributor must do their accounting and send it to the label or artist.
DSPs all use different reporting and analytic systems to process their royalties that are owed to labels and artists. These systems are bug prone and often incur delays while upgrading.
DSPs and monetization companies can experience bugs that hide or accidentally delete reports. However, they back their systems up to retrieve any lost data, unfortunately causing delays in report and earnings deliveries.
DSP’s all use different reporting and analytic systems to process their royalties that are owed to labels and artists. These systems are not bug prone and often incur delays while upgrading.
DSP’s and Monetization companies can experiences bugs that hide or accidently delete reports. However, they back their systems up to retrieve any lost data. Unfortunately causing delays in report and earnings deliveries.
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