Releasing music independently in Australia has never been more accessible, but the process can still feel overwhelming if you're doing it for the first time. Distributors, ISRCs, metadata, royalties, APRA AMCOS, streaming platforms — there's a lot to get your head around.
This guide breaks it all down so you know exactly what to do and in what order.
What is Music Distribution?
Music distribution is the process of getting your recordings onto streaming platforms and digital stores. When your track is available on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, or any other platform, it got there through a distributor.
Distributors act as the delivery layer between you and the platforms. They handle the technical formatting, metadata submission, and ongoing relationship with each DSP (digital streaming platform). Without a distributor, you can't upload directly to most major platforms.
Do You Need a Label?
No. Independent distribution means you release music under your own name or your own imprint, without signing to a record label. You own your masters, you control your release schedule, and you keep the majority of your royalties.
In Australia, the independent music scene is strong. Artists like Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett, and Hiatus Kaiyote all built significant careers before or outside of major label deals. Distribution is no longer a barrier.
Choosing a Music Distributor
There are global distributors like DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby, and there are Australian-based options like G.Y.R.O.
The main things to compare when choosing:
- Royalty split: How much of your earnings do you keep?
- Pricing model: Do you pay per release or an annual subscription?
- ISRC codes: Are they included, and do you own them?
- Support: Is there a real team you can contact, and are they in your timezone?
- Territory coverage: Do they deliver to all the platforms your audience uses?
G.Y.R.O. is Australian-owned and operated, with a team based in Brisbane. You keep 92% of your royalties, get free ISRC codes with every release, and have access to support in your timezone. Releases go to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and 100+ other platforms worldwide.
Preparing Your Release
Before you submit anything, get these sorted:
Audio
WAV files, 16-bit minimum, 44.1kHz sample rate. This is the industry standard and what most platforms prefer. Some distributors will accept MP3 but WAV gives you the best result across all stores.
Artwork
3000 x 3000 pixels minimum, JPEG or PNG. No blurry edges, no text too close to the border, no logos of streaming platforms in the artwork (platforms will reject this). Square format only.
Metadata
This is the information that travels with your release: track title, artist name, featuring artists, release date, genre, language, and explicit content flag. Get it right before you submit. Fixing metadata after delivery can take time and sometimes costs a fee depending on your distributor.
ISRC Codes
If this is a new recording, your distributor will assign ISRCs. If you're re-distributing existing music, use the ISRCs you already have. Keeping the same codes means your stream counts carry over on platforms like Spotify.
Registering with APRA AMCOS
APRA AMCOS is the Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society. As a songwriter or composer in Australia, registering your works with APRA AMCOS is how you collect performance and mechanical royalties.
Performance royalties are generated when your music is played publicly, on radio, in venues, or on streaming platforms. Mechanical royalties are generated when your music is reproduced, such as when someone streams or downloads it.
You can register as a member at apraamcos.com.au. It's free to join and there are no ongoing fees. Once you're a member, register each of your works so that royalties generated anywhere in the world can be tracked and paid back to you.
Your ISRCs are used by APRA AMCOS to match your recordings to royalty payments, which is another reason why getting them right from the start matters.
Setting Your Release Date
Give yourself a minimum of four weeks between submitting your release and your intended release date. This window exists for a few reasons:
- Spotify for Artists editorial pitching: You can pitch your track to Spotify playlist editors before it goes live, but only in the window before the release date. Miss it and you lose the opportunity for that release.
- Platform processing: Most platforms take a few days to ingest a new release. Four weeks gives you buffer if anything needs correcting.
- Pre-save campaigns: Building a pre-save audience before release day is one of the most effective things you can do to boost your first-week numbers.
New music releases in Australia typically go live at midnight Friday AEST. Plan your submission accordingly.
Releasing Your Music
Once you've submitted through your distributor, the main things to do before release day:
- Claim and update your Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, and other DSP artist profiles.
- Submit your Spotify editorial pitch.
- Set up a pre-save or pre-add link and share it with your audience.
- Line up any press, social content, or live dates to coincide with the release.
- Let your existing fans know it's coming.
Collecting Your Royalties
Once your music is out and generating streams, royalties flow back through two separate channels:
Master royalties: Paid by the streaming platforms to your distributor, who passes them on to you. G.Y.R.O. pays out via your dashboard on a regular cycle.
Publishing royalties: Paid by collecting societies like APRA AMCOS to the songwriter. If you write your own music, make sure you're registered and your works are filed correctly.
Keep an eye on your streaming dashboards. Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists, and your distributor dashboard all give you different views of how your music is performing.
Growing From Here
Distribution is the starting point, not the finish line. Once your music is live, the work shifts to building an audience, pitching to playlists, growing your social presence, and releasing consistently.
The artists who build sustainable independent careers in Australia aren't just good at making music. They treat it like a craft and a business at the same time. Distribution, metadata, royalty collection, and promotion aren't separate from the music. They're part of it.
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