Level Music, Warner’s independent distribution platform is ending services in a few months. Here’s how you can keep your music online for free.

In 2018, Warner Music Group (WMG) launched a music distributor to rival the likes of RouteNote, TuneCore, and DistroKid. Level Music offered distribution to top platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as social platforms including TikTok and Instagram.

Now, WMG have announced that they will “shut down Level in 2025”. Whilst the full service will shut down next year, removing all artists uploaded releases with it, they have stopped accepting new submissions already. Level Music also no longer allows edits to releases.

WMG explains: “We’re focusing all of our efforts behind the ADA brand, as we continue to strengthen our global suite of services for artists and label partners across the independent community. We’re taking a truly global approach, and investing in our team and technology, with some exciting announcements in the works.”

ADA is WMG’s independent label and artist services team. It seems that empowering independent artists at large wasn’t attractive enough for the major label, so they’re keeping to their own curation of which independent artists they feel are worth the effort.

Level Music follows the course of Spinnup, another major label-owned music distributor that closed its doors to artists at large. Spinnup was owned by Universal Music Group and moved to an invite-only basis last year.

Do all artists not deserve the same opportunities? Thankfully, there is a solution for Level artists looking for a brighter horizon and a new route to uploading their music online.

How can Level Music artists keep their music online and earn money?

As Level Music prepares to close, removing all artists’ music from the stores they’ve uploaded to, the sooner you move your music the better. RouteNote offers a free and simple alternative, offering distribution to the top platforms around the world.

Transferring your music from Level to RouteNote is simple and with no fees, there is no barrier of entry for new users looking to keep their music online.

Artist can keep their play counts and playlist placements intact, they simply need to follow the following steps.

  1. Export your assets and metadata from Level
  2. Create a free account at www.routenote.com
  3. Upload and format your releases using the data downloaded from Level, ensuring you use the same UPCs, ISRCs, and titles
  4. Upload and allow time for the team at RouteNote to approve and upload your releases
  5. Once you have verified your releases have been uploaded through RouteNote (and only when you’re sure) you can now take down your releases from Level Music
  6. Your music will now be on the same artist pages with the same streaming stats

At RouteNote you have total control over how you want to release your music. You can upload for free, keeping 85% of all the royalties that your music earns across every platform. If you’re looking to retain 100% of the royalties, you can pay a small upfront cost for Premium.

Find out about all the opportunities available to artists and sign up for free at www.routenote.com.