TUT-05
Distribution & Master Royalties•30 Minutes
Intermediate
DistroKid VIP Distribution, Metadata & SplitPay Setup
How to Deliver Master Audio to DSPs, Lock Down ISRC/UPC Codes & Automate Bandmate Royalty Splits
Official Partner Portal
7% Off First Year • Keep 100% of Streaming Royalties
Why This Step Matters
Uploading without a 3-4 week runway kills your Spotify editorial pitch and disqualifies you from algorithmic Release Radar playlists on release day.
System Architecture & Flow
[Master 24-Bit WAV] ──► [DistroKid VIP (3-4 Wks Ahead)] ──► [ISRC & Credits Locked]
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┌───────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────┐
▼ ▼
[Spotify for Artists Editorial Pitch] [SplitPay: Auto 50/50 Direct Deposit]
Required Prerequisites Before Starting
- Lossless Stereo WAV (24-bit/44.1kHz or 16-bit/44.1kHz)
- 3000 x 3000 pixel artwork (JPG/PNG, RGB, no promotional text)
- Songwriters' exact legal first and last names
Step-by-Step Action Plan
1
Claim Your DistroKid VIP Account
- •Visit https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/10508274 to claim your 7% discount.
- •Select the Musician Plus plan (enables 2 artist names, custom release dates, and custom label names).
- •Connect your Relay Account 01 under Payout settings.
2
Schedule Release 3-4 Weeks in Advance
- •Click Upload in the top navigation bar.
- •Select all digital stores.
- •Set Release Date on a Friday at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance.
- •Set Release Time to 12:00 AM in listener's local time zone.
3
Input Exact Metadata & ISRC Handling
- •Enter clean song title (never include spammy text or tags in title).
- •Enter exact legal songwriter names (first and last).
- •If executing a Waterfall release, paste your existing ISRC to carry over stream counts.
4
Configure Automated SplitPay for Collaborators
- •Navigate to Splits in the top menu.
- •Enter co-writer / producer email addresses and assign percentage splits (e.g. 50/50).
- •DistroKid handles direct royalty payments and 1099 tax forms for each collaborator.
5
Claim Spotify for Artists & Pitch Editors
- •Once status shows 'Sent to stores', log into artists.spotify.com.
- •Go to Music -> Upcoming -> Pitch a Song.
- •Submit high-converting 500-character pitch at least 7 days before release.
Common Beginner Traps to Avoid
- ✕Uploading less than 7 days before release (guarantees zero Spotify editorial consideration).
- ✕Using artist stage names in songwriter legal credits.
- ✕Manually calculating and Venmoing royalty splits instead of using SplitPay.
Verification Checklist
- ✓DistroKid account active via VIP link.
- ✓Release scheduled 3+ weeks out on a Friday.
- ✓Master WAV and 3000x3000px artwork uploaded.
- ✓SplitPay configured for all collaborators.
- ✓Spotify for Artists editorial pitch submitted under Upcoming.