How to Set Up Your DistroKid Account the Right Way

The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your DistroKid Account for Success

🚀 You’ve done the prep work—now it’s time to set up your DistroKid account the right way.

If you rush through this process, you risk missing important royalty options, making metadata mistakes, or choosing the wrong plan for your goals. This guide walks you through every key decision you need to make when setting up your account to maximize your success from day one.

📌 Want the full step-by-step guide? Get the complete DistroKid Guide for AI Music & Content Creators here:
👉 Download Full Guide

🔥 Step 1: Choosing the Right DistroKid Plan

📌 Before you create your account, understand what each plan includes.

✅ Musician Plan ($22.99/year)

  • Best for: Solo artists just starting out.
  • Key limitations: Only one artist name, no customization, no YouTube Content ID.

✅ Musician Plus ($39.99/year)

  • Best for: Artists who want pre-scheduled releases & better branding.
  • Key features: Customizable release dates, label name, and stats tracking.

✅ Label Plan ($89.99+/year)

  • Best for: Managing multiple artists or releases.
  • Key features: Includes all Musician Plus benefits + multiple artist profiles.

🚨 Pro Tip: Musician Plus is the best choice for serious artists because it allows scheduled releases—a must-have for marketing and playlist pitching.

🔥 Step 2: Creating Your DistroKid Account (What to Expect)

📌 Once you choose your plan, here’s what happens next:

✅ Enter Your Artist Name

  • Make sure this matches your Spotify/Apple Music profile exactly.
  • Double-check spelling—once you release music under a name, changing it later is difficult.

✅ Set Up Your Profile Image & Branding

  • DistroKid will pull profile pictures from Spotify & Apple Music for Artist profiles once you’re verified.
  • Upload a high-quality image (3000x3000 pixels) for a professional look.

✅ Enable YouTube & Social Media Monetization

  • Turn on YouTube Content ID (optional, costs extra).
  • Enable Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook monetization so your music is available in stories and reels.

📌 Key Reminder: If you have a Spotify for Artists account, link it before uploading music to avoid duplicate profiles.

🔥 Step 3: Understanding Additional DistroKid Features (Are They Worth It?)

📌 DistroKid offers several add-ons—here’s what matters.

✅ Leave a Legacy ($29.99 per song)

  • Ensures your music stays on streaming platforms permanently—even if you stop paying for DistroKid.
  • Best for: Tracks you believe will generate long-term income.

✅ YouTube Content ID ($4.95 per song + 20% earnings share)

  • Detects and monetizes unauthorized YouTube uploads of your music.
  • Best for: Artists who expect high exposure on YouTube.

✅ Social Media Monetization (Free but optional)

  • Allows your music to be used in TikTok, Instagram Stories, and Facebook videos.
  • Highly recommended—this helps with organic promotion.

📌 Final Recommendation: Leave a Legacy is a good investment for key tracks, but YouTube Content ID is optional unless you expect high YouTube traffic.

🔥 Step 4: Setting Up Payment & Royalties

📌 DistroKid pays 100% of your streaming royalties—unless you choose to split earnings.

✅ Set Up Your Payout Method

  • Payments are made via PayPal, bank transfer, or check.
  • Minimum withdrawal is $2.00.

✅ Opt into Splits (Optional Feature)

  • Lets you automatically share revenue with collaborators (producers, feature artists).
  • Best for: Co-releases, joint projects, or AI-music collabs.

🚨 Pro Tip: Even if you’re an AI music creator, register for SoundExchange & a PRO (like ASCAP/BMI) to collect extra royalties.

🔥 Step 5: Final Pre-Upload Checklist

📌 Before you upload music, make sure you’ve completed these steps:

✅ Your Artist Name is Consistent Across Platforms
✅ Your Branding (Images & Bio) is Ready
✅ You Understand Your Plan’s Features
✅ You’ve Set Up Payment Details & Royalties

🚀 Once these are done, you’re ready to upload your first track!

📌 Want more detailed instructions? Get the full DistroKid Guide for AI Music & Content Creators here:
👉 Download Full Guide

🔥 Final Thoughts: Why Proper Setup Matters

📌 Skipping these setup steps can cost you time, royalties, and branding issues later.

✅ A well-structured account = fewer headaches and better earnings.
✅ Your first upload is crucial—doing it right the first time prevents problems later.
✅ Investing in the right plan & features will make scaling your AI music business easier.

🚀 Next up: How to properly upload your first track on DistroKid and optimize it for maximum visibility.

🔥 Want to be fully prepared? Download the full DistroKid Guide for AI Music & Content Creators here:
👉 Download Full Guide

🔥 Ready to Release Music? Get 7% Off DistroKid

📌 DistroKid is the best platform for independent artists and AI music creators.

👉 Sign up for DistroKid and get 7% off

🚀 Start your music career with the right setup and maximize your earnings.

✅ Bookmark JackRighteous.com for more AI music business tips!

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