MUS 315 Music Distribution Final Study Guide Review

Music Distribution Basics: What is music distribution and why is it essential today?

how songs get delivered to streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. It's essential because it helps artists reach listeners, earn money, and grow their fanbase worldwide.

Music Distribution Basics: Distro Kid...

Lets musicians upload unlimited songs for a low yearly fee. Artists keep 100% of their royalties, making it a fast and affordable option for independent artists who release a lot of music.

Music Distribution Basics: TuneCore..

Lets you sell your music online and keep all your earnings. You pay a yearly fee for each song or album you upload, which works well if your music is earning steady money.

Music Distribution Basics: CD Baby..

Charges a one-time fee to upload a song or album and then takes a small cut of your earnings. It's a good choice for artists who want easy setup, plus they offer services like sync licensing and selling physical CDs.

Music Distribution Basics: AWAL (Artists Without A Label)..

A selective company that only works with artists they believe can grow. They help with distribution, marketing, playlist pitching, and sometimes even offer financial advances.

Licensing & Rights: What is the definition and purpose of a Mechanical License?

Lets you legally copy and sell someone else's song, like on CDs or downloads. It makes sure the songwriter gets paid royalties. You need it anytime you reproduce a copyrighted song.

Licensing & Rights: What is a Blanket License, and where is it used?

Lets businesses or venues play lots of songs without needing permission for each one. It's used by places like radio stations, TV networks, bars, and restaurants. This saves time and covers a wide range of music.

Licensing & Rights: What is Sync Licensing, and why do composers use it?

Gives permission to use music with visual media like movies, TV shows, or ads. Composers use it to earn money and get more exposure. It helps their music reach bigger audiences through popular media.

Licensing & Rights: What's the difference between a Non-exclusive and an Exclusive music library?

A Non-exclusive music library lets you license the same song to multiple places at once. An Exclusive music library means the library is the only one allowed to license your song. Exclusive deals can sometimes offer higher pay but limit where else you can use the song.

Licensing & Rights: What is a Needle Drop License, and why might it be needed?

A License that charges a fee each time a song is used in a TV show, movie, or ad. It's needed when a production wants to pay per use instead of buying full rights. This keeps costs lower if the song is only used briefly.

Important Organizations in Music: What does the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) do?

collects and pays mechanical royalties from digital streaming services to songwriters and publishers. They make sure artists get paid when their songs are streamed or downloaded.

Important Organizations in Music: What is the purpose of SoundExchange and who does it benefit?

collects digital performance royalties from internet and satellite radio (like Pandora and SiriusXM). It pays these royalties to recording artists and record labels.

Important Organizations in Music: What is Songtrust and how does it help songwriters, producers, and rights holders?

helps songwriters, producers, and rights holders collect publishing royalties from around the world. It makes it easier for independent creators to get paid without needing a full publishing deal.

Important Organizations in Music: What is the role of CCLI in music used in churches and worship?

CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) provides licenses for churches to legally use songs during services. They make sure songwriters get paid when their music is used in worship.

Important Organizations in Music: What is a Performance Rights Organization (PRO) and what do they do for musicians (examples: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC)?

PROs like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC collect performance royalties when music is played on the radio, TV, live shows, or public spaces. They make sure songwriters and publishers get paid for public performances of their songs.

Streaming, Metadata, and Royalties: How do artists get paid for streams on platforms like Pandora and SiriusXM?

Artists get paid through SoundExchange, which collects digital performance royalties from non-interactive streams. These royalties are split between the artist and the rights holder (usually the label).

Streaming, Metadata, and Royalties: What is Metadata and why is it critical in music distribution?

the information about a song, like the title, artist name, and songwriter credits. It's critical because it ensures songs are properly identified and that royalties are paid to the right people.

Streaming, Metadata, and Royalties: What are the three types of music metadata and their uses?

The three types are descriptive (song title, genre), ownership (who owns the rights), and technical (file type, duration). Each type helps organize, track, and pay for the music correctly.

Streaming, Metadata, and Royalties: Do services like DistroKid collect mechanical royalties from streams?

No, DistroKid does not collect mechanical royalties from streams. Artists need to use a publishing service like Songtrust or sign up with the MLC to collect them.

Record Labels and Industry Groups: What are the three biggest record labels globally?

The three biggest record labels are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. They control a large share of the global music market.

Record Labels and Industry Groups: What does the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) do?

The RIAA protects the rights of artists and record labels and fights music piracy. They also award Gold, Platinum, and Diamond certifications for album and single sales.

Music in Film, TV, and Sync: What is a Cue Sheet and why is it needed for Film/TV placements?

A Cue Sheet lists all the music used in a TV show or film, including details like song titles and writers. It is needed so performance royalties can be paid to the correct people.

Music in Film, TV, and Sync: How do composers get paid for Film and TV music?

Composers earn money through upfront fees (for creating the music) and ongoing performance royalties when the show or movie airs.

Music in Film, TV, and Sync: What does a Music Publisher do vs. a Music Supervisor?

A Music Publisher collects royalties and manages the rights for songwriters. A Music Supervisor picks and licenses music to use in movies, TV shows, and ads.

Music in Film, TV, and Sync: How can Tunefind help you research sync placement opportunities?

shows what songs have been placed in TV shows, movies, and games. Artists can use it to find where their style of music might fit for future placements.

Music in Film, TV, and Sync: What are platforms like DISCO used for?

is a platform where artists and composers can organize, pitch, and share their music directly with music supervisors, brands, and other industry professionals.

Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos: What is the difference between Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos?

Spatial Audio is a 3D listening experience that feels like sound is coming from all around you. Dolby Atmos is a specific technology used to create Spatial Audio by placing sounds in a 3D space.

Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos: Why are companies like Apple pushing for more Spatial Audio content?

Apple promotes Spatial Audio to make music more immersive and improve the listening experience. It also helps them stay competitive and sell more devices like AirPods.

Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos: What are the native sample rates for Dolby Atmos production?

Dolby Atmos production usually uses a native sample rate of 48kHz, but it can also work with 96kHz for higher-quality audio.

Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos: What is Psychoacoustics and why is it important in immersive audio?

is the study of how people perceive sound. It's important because it helps audio engineers design immersive audio that feels natural and realistic to listeners.

Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos: What are economic reasons Logic Pro added Dolby Atmos mixing features?

to attract more producers and keep them in Apple's ecosystem. It gives creators professional tools without needing expensive extra software.

Business and Marketing for Musicians: How does Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs connect to marketing music?

Maslow's Hierarchy shows that people seek connection, belonging, and self-expression. Marketing music taps into these needs by making fans feel emotionally connected to the artist.

Business and Marketing for Musicians: What is BandZoogle and how can it help artists?

a website builder made for musicians. It helps artists create websites to sell music, merch, tickets, and build a direct fanbase without needing a middleman.

Business and Marketing for Musicians: What percent of the global population uses social media today?

About 60% of the global population uses social media today. This makes it a powerful tool for musicians to reach fans worldwide.

Business and Marketing for Musicians: What does SoundCloud offer musicians and how does it support independent artists?

lets artists upload, share, and promote their music directly to listeners. It supports independent artists with tools like fan engagement, monetization, and playlist opportunities.

Content Libraries and Licensing Companies: What does Epidemic Sound do and how does it fit into the licensing world?

offers royalty-free music for creators to use in videos, podcasts, and other content. They pay artists upfront and handle all the licensing, making it easy for users to avoid copyright issues.