Who is a distributor
Basic terms
A distributor opens the door to the platforms for you
In digital music distribution, there are three terms that are often confused or lumped together: Producer of a sound recording, music publisher and distributor. Each of them plays a different role, though – and knowing what a distributor does is the foundation.
We are talking exclusively about digital music distribution – that is, how recordings get onto streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal or Amazon Music. Terms such as producer of a sound recording or music publisher are covered in separate articles.
What is a music distributor?
A music distributor is an intermediary between the holder of the rights to a recording and the digital platforms. Platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music do not accept recordings directly from artists or labels – they work exclusively with distributors that have direct contractual and technical relationships with them.
A distributor therefore makes sure that your recording gets to where listeners are looking for it – and that the earnings from streams and sales come back to you.
What exactly does a distributor do?
Delivers recordings to the platforms
It uploads your music together with all the metadata (title, artist, ISRC code…) into the systems of the individual platforms.
Collects and pays out earnings
It collects payments from the platforms and passes them on to you – after deducting the agreed commission or fee.
Enters into a licensing relationship
To be able to distribute a recording, it needs your authorisation – that is the essence of a distribution agreement.
Distributor, producer of the recording and music publisher – what is the difference?
In practice, these three roles are often confused because they are sometimes performed by the same person or company. In reality, however, they are three distinct functions:
| Role | What it does | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Producer of a sound recording | Finances and organises the making of the recording and owns the rights to it. | A label that paid for the studio and the production. |
| Music publisher | Manages the rights to the musical composition and lyrics and collects author royalties. | A music publisher managing a songwriter’s songs. |
| Distributor | Ensures, technically and contractually, that the recording is available on the platforms. | Bez Labelu, DistroKid, TuneCore… |
Large traditional labels have historically brought these roles together under one roof – they produced recordings themselves and managed both the rights and the distribution. However, these functions are often separate too. As an independent artist, you are most likely the producer of your own recording yourself, you may not even need a publisher – and you simply choose a distributor.
How does Czech law deal with this?
Czech law does not define the term “distributor” as such. What the law does define are the rights that distribution involves. Act No. 121/2000 Coll., on Copyright (the Copyright Act) provides in Section 76 that the producer of a sound recording has the right to distribute the recording and to communicate it to the public – which includes making it available via the internet.
The producer of a sound recording has the right to use their recording – to reproduce, distribute, rent, lend and communicate it to the public – and to grant another person authorisation to do so by contract.
For a distributor to be able to exercise these rights on your behalf, you have to grant them to it by contract in the form of a licence. That is why you sign a distribution agreement – and why it is important to know what it says.
Bez Labelu as your distributor
Bez Labelu is a Czech distribution company based in Prague. As a distributor, we enter into a Framework (Sub)Licence Agreement on Digital Distribution with each client, on the basis of which we obtain the authorisation to distribute your music to the platforms – nothing more, nothing less.
Bez Labelu keeps 10% of the royalties collected, another 20% stays in the distribution chain on the way to the platforms and 70% is yours. You don’t pay any flat fees per release. You will find the details in the price list and in the article Royalties.
Because we are a Czech company, you don’t have to deal with the possible complications of using a foreign distributor – such as VAT issues or jurisdiction in the event of a dispute.