Music Distribution

In a time not so long ago an artist had to basically get signed to a record label before they could get their music distributed. Technology has evolved so quickly that independent artists can do for themselves what they used to need music labels to do for them instead. Most of the assistance comes from something called a music aggregator.  An aggregator helps artists get their work distributed using mainstream platforms though digital content distribution.

The music industry had to find a way to recoup the slump in CD, record and album sales. It will continue to change because the industry as a whole has started figuring out ways to fix the problem of lost sales. Some retail sites like iTunes and Tunecore require their customers to go though one of these channels before making a purchase.

Digital distribution is becoming the new normal in the music industry. This is great for new artist; it allows them more control over their work then ever before. The times of waiting to get picked up from a label in order to get an artists career started is no longer standard. An artist only needs to develop a fan base in order to get their music purchased.

Some of the aggregator sites like Taxi.com, ReverbNation.com and Sound Cloud.com provide things like virtual showcases. A showcase is used to introduce a new artist to influential individuals in the music industry.

Digital warehouses like Nokia Music, MediaNet and RedDotNet are just some of the distribution centers for Media and retail. These warehouses are so huge they service 

a large portion of the music industry. Some of the ways they are able to do this is by selling music to the public by virtual means. Every time a customer purchases a ringtone or download they are accessing what is called a digital jukebox.

References:

Craft, Kimberly M.M J.D, Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution second edition