How to release music independently and keep your masters

Label vs distributor — the one distinction that matters

• A label typically funds your release and, in exchange, owns your masters and takes the majority of the revenue, often for a long time.
• A distributor is a service that simply delivers your music to streaming platforms and pays you. You keep your masters and usually ~100% of royalties, minus a flat or annual fee or a small cut.

If keeping ownership matters to you — and the Taylor Swift and Prince fights are about exactly this — a distributor is how you stay in control.

The independent release checklist

1. Register yourself properly.
   • Pick or form your artist/label name (you can be your own "label").
   • Get an ISRC (per-track) and UPC (per-release) — most distributors issue these free.
2. Choose a distributor model.
   • Flat-fee / annual: you pay a set price and keep ~100% of royalties. Best once you have steady streams.
   • Commission: free or cheap up front, the distributor keeps a small percentage. Best when you're starting.
   • Whatever you pick: confirm you retain master ownership and can leave and take your catalog with you.
3. Collect every royalty stream — not just streaming.
   • Publishing/mechanical & performance royalties (songwriter side) are separate from your recording royalties. Register with a PRO (e.g., a performing-rights org) and a publishing administrator so you're not leaving the songwriter money in the "black box."
4. Deliver on time. Submit 3–4 weeks before release date so you're eligible for editorial and your release-day data counts.
5. Own your pages. Claim Spotify for Artists and Apple Music for Artists — control your profile, see your data, pitch playlists yourself.

Red flags when choosing a distributor

• Anything that claims ownership of your masters (that's a label in disguise).
• Exclusivity you can't exit, or that locks your catalog if you leave.
• Vague language about who collects publishing — make sure it's you.

Keep your share high

Releasing independently is the practical version of the lesson in what you earn per stream: the streams are the same everywhere; keeping ~100% of them is the difference between a hobby and an income.

The takeaway

You can be on every platform tomorrow without signing your life away. Own the masters, collect all the royalty types, and use a distributor that lets you walk away with your catalog. Then focus on the hard part — getting heard. That's next: grow without the algorithm.