Uploading a song to a distributor does not normally mean selling your master.

But you do have to give the distributor certain rights.

Otherwise it could not distribute anything.

Ownership and licence are different

Ownership means owning the asset.

A licence gives another party permission to use the asset in specified ways.

A typical digital distributor operates through a licence rather than purchasing your recordings.

Why does a distributor need a licence?

The distributor needs permission to:

  • copy your audio;
  • transmit it;
  • deliver it to DSPs;
  • store it;
  • provide artwork and metadata;
  • collect associated revenue.

Without these permissions, distribution would be impossible.

Look at exclusivity

A non-exclusive agreement generally allows you to retain broader freedom.

An exclusive agreement may prevent you from distributing the same recordings through another provider during the term.

Neither is inherently wrong.

Understand what you are agreeing to.

Sublicensing

DSP delivery often requires a distributor to grant necessary permissions to its partners.

But examine how broadly sublicensing rights are written.

Ask what commercial activities they enable.

Marketing rights

Some agreements permit the distributor to use:

  • artist name;
  • artwork;
  • clips;
  • likeness;

to market the release or service.

Again, this can be entirely reasonable.

Read the scope.

AI rights

Increasingly, artists should search agreements for AI and machine-learning language.

The question is whether permissions extend beyond the core purpose you expected when signing up.

Termination

Rights should be considered alongside the agreement’s duration.

What happens when you terminate?

When do licences end?

How quickly are releases removed?

Final thoughts

A distributor needs rights to distribute your music.

That does not automatically mean it owns your music.

The important distinction is:

What do you own?

What have you licensed?

For what purpose?

For how long?

Those four questions explain most distribution agreements.