Being a musician is a tough niche. There is so much competition out there that you have to use every tool at your disposal. Getting your music on Amazon is one of the best things you can do, and I’m going to teach you how to do it.
Fortunately Amazon Music is a great streaming service for up and coming musicians to make a name for themselves, and earn a passive income in the process.
In the beginning it’s going to take a lot of work and grind, however, when you get the ball rolling it’s incredibly worth it.
Here’s my guide to selling music on Amazon. Enjoy.
Getting Started
How Do You Get Your Music on Amazon?
As an independent artist, the only way to get your music on Amazon is with a record label or distributor.
If you’re signed with a record label, they’ll do all of this for you.
Otherwise you can use a distributor which will handle licensing, payments, royalty-distribution, marketing, and other important things that will help get your music heard.
There are a number of reputable distributors that anyone can use.
I have compiled a list below to help you get started.
These are just a few of the names out there.
Each have their pros, cons, prices, etc. So it’s best to do your own research to find the one you like that best suits you.
How Do You Get Paid?
Amazon pays around $0.004 per play, which is the average pay for most other digital stream platforms.
This means you get a share of Amazon’s subscription revenue per month.
The money you receive per stream goes to your distributor, which is then paid out to you from whoever distributor you signed up with.
The good news is that you’re paid 100% royalties on all your plays.
The only fees you will have to pay is a membership with the distributor, which will vary depending on company, how many albums you want to upload, etc.
How Long Does it Take To Get Your Music on Amazon?
Each distributor is different and have their own deadlines on how long it takes for your music to land on the Amazon Music app.
Typically it takes 1 – 2 days for the distribution company to check out your music and then upload it to Amazon, from there it’s in Amazons hands. They strive to get it on the platform within 24 hours.
Therefore you can expect to see your music live within 2 – 4 days, on average no matter what distributor you use.
Your Profile
Download the Amazon Music for Artists App and Claim Your Artist Page
Once you’ve done a bit of research, figured out what music distributor you want to work with, uploaded your music, you can download the app and start editing your profile.
Go to the Google Playstore and download the Amazon Music for Artists app.
From here you’ll have to search your artists name, or provide an Amazon link, to claim your artist page (this will be available in your distribution profile page).
If you sign up with DistroKid, TuneCore, TuneCore Japan, or CD Baby, you get instant access when you authenticate your account login.
Once this is done, you can access fan insights, locations, total streams, and many more.
It’s a complete analytics page to learn more about your fans and what they best respond with, then you can market your music accordingly.
Important Note: One thing to note is that you won’t find your artist name until Amazon has placed your music on the app, which typically takes around 2 – 4 days after you uploaded it to your distributor.
Update Your Profile
Since you’ve claimed your page, you can now complete your profile by adding an image, profile details, description, etc.
You can do this via the Amazon Music for Artists app under the Profile and Tools menu.
Can’t find your artist name? No problem.
Update Your Name
If you cannot find your artist name to claim your profile, no worries, you can click the “Report Issue” tool under user settings and contact support.
Another problem is that you can find your name but not your music.
No problem at all. Sometimes your music might’ve been merged with someone else with the same name.
Again, just use the “Report Issue” tool for it to be sorted.
Keep in mind that these changes take time, and you could be waiting up to 4 weeks to see the live changes on Amazon Music.
Sharing Your Music With Fans
No doubt you’re excited to have your music live on one of the most popular streaming platforms on the web, and you want to share your music with your fans.
Easily done.
Go to the Amazon Music for Artists app, locate the report page, and click the share link.
If you’re sharing from the Amazon Music streaming app, click on the three dots, and then the share icon.
What Do I Need to Do Once My Music is Live?
The best thing about using a distributor is that they put your music on hundreds of popular streaming services out there.
So you’re not just getting exposed to Amazon’s audience, your distributor will put your music everywhere on the web.
That’s why it’s in your best interest to choose a distributor, pay the fee and invest in yourself.
The second best thing is that no matter what streaming service your song gets played on, you’ll earn royalties for life.
They’ll be paid out to your distributor which will then be paid out to you.
Your responsibilities?
Continue growing your following on all major social platforms, and constantly share your music with your fans.
Create music they like, grow a fan base, and make money.
That’s your responsibility as a musician.
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Brandon
My name is Brandon and this is my website. I'm just a normal guy that had dreams, dreams that would keep me up at night because I wanted them so badly. Now I'm living my dreams of being an influencer and making a good living doing so. Broke Influencers is another of my creations where I teach people how to get rich being an online influencer, or die trying. There is no in between.