In the world of music distribution, not all artists are the same. Beyond the number of streams or followers, what really differentiates a project within a distributor is their vision, consistency and ability to deliver.
If you want your distributor to keep you on their radar for opportunities, pitching or development, this is what really matters.
1. Artist with a clear vision vs. improvisational artist
An artist with vision:
- You know where your project is going
- It has a recognisable aesthetic and sound
- It understands that each release adds to a narrative.
You don't need to have it all locked in from the start, but yes an address. That makes the difference between "just another issue" and "a serious proposal with potential".
2. Artist who delivers well vs. artist who is late
Your song can be very good, but if you deliver it untimed, with bad cover art or without complete metadata, nobody can move it. An artist who:
- Meet deadlines
- Deliver the materials in order
- Reacts quickly to feedback
... earns points, and generates confidence within the team.
3. Communicating artist vs. invisible artist
A distributor can't move a topic if it doesn't understand the project. What do you say in your networks? What aesthetics do you have? What content do you generate around the launch?
The artist who communicates who you are and what you mean is the one that activates the internal work: pitch, media, curators.
4. Proactive artist vs. waiting artist
The artist who proposes ideas, who follows up, who asks how to improve and what he can do on his part, is the one that opens the most doors. Expecting the distributor to do everything is a recipe for frustration.
5. Coherent artist vs. chaotic artist
Changing genre, aesthetics or discourse with every release without any common thread generates disconnection. It's not that you can't experiment, but a proposal with certain artistic coherence is better understood... and better defended from within.
Conclusion
Standing out in a distribution company is not just about high numbers. It's about projecting professionalism, clarity and commitment to your project. If you want them to bet on you, start by building a proposition that It makes you want to support.v
