How to get your music video to Apple Music
Today we take a look at how to get your music video to Apple Music. Specifically, the various options and challenges with respect to the independent digital distribution of our music videos and music-related video content on Apple's streaming platform. We've discussed services like TuneCore - one of the best options for getting your music to Apple Music, Spotify, and many more - however, things have moved in the space since then with TuneCore competitor Distrokid doing now waves, but to some extent the options are still somewhat limited when it comes to distributing your companion's video content. So, let's take a closer look at Apple's official list of distribution partners, the best options available for independent music / content creators, and how to distribute your music video on Apple Music.
How to get your music video to Apple Music
At this point, it seems, for the most part, pretty straightforward to get your music from Apple Music and other comparable services. Music videos, however, are a little more complicated beast for completely independent artists.
Apple Music Partner Finder List - Apple Music Video Distribution
Apple's official Music Partner Finder List is an obvious place to start here, but there really aren't many officially highlighted services that you can just sign up for, pay your money for, and watch your music video on. Apple Music (usually a few weeks later) as far as we know. You'll find a lot of them that say they do, and it very well could be, but it looks like a lot of them are more like a little tag that you would need to submit your package to before you even get it. considered - or something to that effect. And on the other hand, most of the larger and well-known services on the list (TuneCore, Distrokid, etc.) do not support the distribution of music videos.
Which services are best for distributing music videos on Apple Music?
This leaves independent artists, bedroom producers, and budding content creators in a bit of a loss, or somewhat confusing mess of options to consider with limited possibilities for personal authorship when it comes to. to get video clips on Apple Music. Analyzing the distribution of royalties and pricing for each music video distribution avenue, policies / pricing for post-delivery content changes, and understanding the video content requirements / limitations for each service, among others , is already more than enough for independent creations to process. with - not to mention some of the services on Apple's list that feature a complicated mess of a homepage and / or are really only available to people outside of North America.
So finding a simple, easy-to-understand service with the details clearly presented is invaluable, even despite all the other monetization considerations here. Some creatives just want to stream their content to the entire world and on the game's biggest platforms, so the ability to just submit content, pay the money, and not have to worry about the rest is what we do. really are. after here today.
Distribution of symphonic music videos
And that brings us to Symphonic. Of all the options Apple mentions on its official partner list, Symphonic seems to be the easiest for how to get your video to Apple's platform. While TuneCore and Distrokid (use this link to 7% discount your distribution job) - arguably the two biggest players in the independent music distribution game - don't offer music video services, Symphonic seems to have a straightforward submission process that anyone can use.
The usual royalty-sharing and video spec requirements apply here as expected (no more lyrical videos on Apple Music, no more Facebook uploads unless you have an official public artist page, etc.), but at in the end, you fill out the forms, send in cash, and you're on your way. No need to have a million Spotify games or a huge number of Instagram followers for the independent distributor to consider you, just pay your money and stream your content.
Symphonic offers an easy-to-follow submission process that walks creatives through the process with several tips and details on what is required of you and what to expect from different streaming services including Apple Music. There's a handy four-step checklist you can use to make sure your music video is ready to go, along with some important details about VEVO and videos featuring content in another language. You can go through all of these details here before you deposit a down payment and you can view the Symphonic royalty schedule here.
More Apple Music distribution options
Of course, there are plenty of options on Apple's list that will do the job, but most of them aren't fully open services. The popular distributor CD Baby, for example, is listed as a music video medium, but it does not appear to offer or promote this service anywhere. Does anyone have any experience with paying the distribution with CD Baby and / or the music video situation?
Of the five services on the partner list designated as a “Preferred Plus” option by Apple, CD Baby is the only one that doesn't look like some sort of music label that must want to distribute your creations to get your content out to the world or at least require some sort of private communication and a submission process that makes it look like you're trying to get a recording deal or something. Others fall under the labels side or are not even in English when you go to the homepage.
While there are certainly other ways beyond Symphonic to get your music video to Apple Music, when it comes to officially supported options, it seems like the easiest way to do it at this point.
Anyone know a better way to get your music video to Apple Music? Have you had luck with some of the more “closed” music video distribution services? Let us know in the comments below.
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