Indie artists, this is the Music Distro deep dive that protects your money and your rights. We start by killing the “upload direct to Spotify” myth and map how distributors/aggregators actually work—metadata accuracy, playlist chances, splits, and payouts. Then we go surgical on ISRC (per track/version/video) and UPC (per single/EP/album), because these codes are the plumbing between your music, charts, and cash flow.

Next, we separate the three royalty pipes:

1. Distributor → streaming/store payouts for the recording (master)
2. PRO + MLC → songwriting/composition royalties
3. SoundExchange / PPCA / PPL → recording performance in broadcast-style uses

We close with traps to avoid: assuming distribution = publishing admin, metadata typos that break discovery, relying on outdated comparison posts, and inorganic streaming that can get you banned or clawed back.

Grab the Release-Ready Checklist in the show notes to repeat this process for every drop—so no stream, spin, or broadcast goes unclaimed.

Read the companion guide: Music Distro: The Most Helpful Guide to Choosing (and Using) a Music Distribution Company in 2026 — https://beatstorapon.com/blog/ultimate-music-distribution-guide-2026/

Chapters / Timestamps (from transcript)

• 00:00 Intro — why Music Distro matters (business side of getting heard)
• 02:15 You need a distributor/aggregator (how it works, payouts, metadata)
• 04:50 ISRC rules (per version/video; don’t reuse)
• 09:50 UPC for releases (single/EP/album; charting & sales tracking)
• 12:10 The “other money”: PRO/MLC (song) vs SoundExchange/PPCA/PPL (recording performance)
• 14:40 Pitfalls: publishing ≠ distribution, metadata errors, inorganic streams/clawbacks
• 16:00 Checklist recap — connect the pipes, don’t miss a cent

If you’re still comparing options, see the best platforms to distribute music for free https://beatstorapon.com/blog/the-best-platforms-to-distribute-music-for-free-and-reach-your-fans/

 ISRC (per track/version/video) and UPC (per single/EP/album). These aren’t admin—they’re the plumbing between your music, charts, and cash flow. For a deeper explainer (including ISWC/DDEX), read Music metadata: ISRC / ISWC / UPC / DDEX https://beatstorapon.com/blog/music-metadata-isrc-iswc-upc-ddex/

Contracts, rights, and revenue streams—start with the business blueprint for contracts, royalties & revenue https://beatstorapon.com/blog/mastering-the-business-of-hip-hop-your-2025-blueprint-for-contracts-royalties-revenue-streams/ and copyright & contracts essentials for artists  https://beatstorapon.com/blog/copyright-contracts-essentials-for-rap-artists-2025-the-ultimate-guide/

We’re building the future—empowering every artist and creator with the tools, beats, and network to share their voice, connect boldly, and leave a mark on the world. 🔗 Visit us at https://beatstorapon.com.

Keep creating. Keep sharing. Keep rising.